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How to Write the Management Team Section of a Business Plan + Examples

Written by Dave Lavinsky

management hierarchy

Over the last 20+ years, we’ve written business plans for over 4,000 companies and hundreds of thousands of others have used the best business plan template and our other business planning materials.

From this vast experience, we’ve gained valuable insights on how to write a business plan effectively , specifically in the management section.

What is a Management Team Business Plan?

A management team business plan is a section in a comprehensive business plan that introduces and highlights the key members of the company’s management team. This part provides essential details about the individuals responsible for leading and running the business, including their backgrounds, skills, and experience.

It’s crucial for potential investors and stakeholders to evaluate the management team’s competence and qualifications, as a strong team can instill confidence in the company’s ability to succeed.

Why is the Management Team Section of a Business Plan Important?

Your management team plan has 3 goals:

  • To prove to you that you have the right team to execute on the opportunity you have defined, and if not, to identify who you must hire to round out your current team
  • To convince lenders and investors (e.g., angel investors, venture capitalists) to fund your company (if needed)
  • To document how your Board (if applicable) can best help your team succeed

What to Include in Your Management Team Section

There are two key elements to include in your management team business plan as follows:

Management Team Members

For each key member of your team, document their name, title, and background.

Their backgrounds are most important in telling you and investors they are qualified to execute. Describe what positions each member has held in the past and what they accomplished in those positions. For example, if your VP of Sales was formerly the VP of Sales for another company in which they grew sales from zero to $10 million, that would be an important and compelling accomplishment to document.

Importantly, try to relate your team members’ past job experience with what you need them to accomplish at your company. For example, if a former high school principal was on your team, you could state that their vast experience working with both teenagers and their parents will help them succeed in their current position (particularly if the current position required them to work with both customer segments).

This is true for a management team for a small business, a medium-sized or large business.

Management Team Gaps

In this section, detail if your management team currently has any gaps or missing individuals. Not having a complete team at the time you develop your business plan. But, you must show your plan to complete your team.

As such, describe what positions are missing and who will fill the positions. For example, if you know you need to hire a VP of Marketing, state this. Further, state the job description of this person. For example, you might say that this hire will have 10 years of experience managing a marketing team, establishing new accounts, working with social media marketing, have startup experience, etc.

To give you a “checklist” of the employees you might want to include in your Management Team Members and/or Gaps sections, below are the most common management titles at a growing startup (note that many are specific to tech startups):

  • Founder, CEO, and/or President
  • Chief Operating Officer
  • Chief Financial Officer
  • VP of Sales
  • VP of Marketing
  • VP of Web Development and/or Engineering
  • UX Designer/Manager
  • Product Manager
  • Digital Marketing Manager
  • Business Development Manager
  • Account Management/Customer Service Manager
  • Sales Managers/Sales Staff
  • Board Members

If you have a Board of Directors or Board of Advisors, you would include the bios of the members of your board in this section.

A Board of Directors is a paid group of individuals who help guide your company. Typically startups do not have such a board until they raise VC funding.

If your company is not at this stage, consider forming a Board of Advisors. Such a board is ideal particularly if your team is missing expertise and/or experience in certain areas. An advisory board includes 2 to 8 individuals who act as mentors to your business. Usually, you meet with them monthly or quarterly and they help answer questions and provide strategic guidance. You typically do not pay advisory board members with cash, but offering them options in your company is a best practice as it allows you to attract better board members and better motivate them.

Management Team Business Plan Example

Below are examples of how to include your management section in your business plan.

Key Team Members

Jim Smith, Founder & CEO

Jim has 15 years of experience in online software development, having co-founded two previous successful online businesses. His first company specialized in developing workflow automation software for government agencies and was sold to a public company in 2003. Jim’s second company developed a mobile app for parents to manage their children’s activities, which was sold to a large public company in 2014. Jim has a B.S. in computer science from MIT and an M.B.A from the University of Chicago

Bill Jones, COO

Bill has 20 years of sales and business development experience from working with several startups that he helped grow into large businesses. He has a B.S. in mechanical engineering from M.I.T., where he also played Division I lacrosse for four years.

We currently have no gaps in our management team, but we plan to expand our team by hiring a Vice President of Marketing to be responsible for all digital marketing efforts.

Vance Williamson, Founder & CEO

Prior to founding GoDoIt, Vance was the CIO of a major corporation with more than 100 retail locations. He oversaw all IT initiatives including software development, sales technology, mobile apps for customers and employees, security systems, customer databases/CRM platforms, etc. He has a  B.S in computer science and an MBA in operations management from UCLA.

We currently have two gaps in our Management Team: 

A VP of Sales with 10 years of experience managing sales teams, overseeing sales processes, working with manufacturers, establishing new accounts, working with digital marketing/advertising agencies to build brand awareness, etc. 

In addition, we need to hire a VP of Marketing with experience creating online marketing campaigns that attract new customers to our site.

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How to Write Management Team Section in a Business Plan

Ultimate Guide On Writing A Business Plan

Free Ultimate Guide On Writing A Business Plan

  • May 1, 2024

management team in business plan

A business is as efficient as its team and its management. Therefore, it becomes important for business owners to build a structured management team that achieves the objectives and goals set by the organization.

Andrew Carnegie, an American steel magnate, beautifully summarized it –

“Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishments toward organizational objectives.”

A business management plan helps build an efficient team and formalizes business operations. This helps businesses streamline strategies to achieve their goals.

So, if you are a business owner who is looking to formalize their business structure and write the management team section in their business plans, this guide is for you.

Here’s a sneak peek into what you’ll learn:

Sounds good? Let’s dive in.

What is the Management Section of a Business Plan?

The management section of a business plan is an in-depth description of a business’s team, its structure, and the owners of a business.

The section discusses ‌who is on the management team—internal and external, their skill sets, experiences, and how meaningfully they would contribute to an organization’s mission statement and goals.

Now that we have defined what the management section of a business plan is, let’s understand why it is so important.

Importance of a Business Plan Management Section

The management section helps you to

  • Showcase leadership: The management team section helps you showcase how qualified and experienced team you have.
  • Clarify team roles: It outlines who does what in your team, ensuring everyone knows their key performance areas and works together towards the same goals.
  • Attract investors: Present your team in the best possible way, as it is one of the key factors in making the final investment decision.

What to include in the Management Section of a Business Plan?

Now that you know why exactly a management section in the business plan is necessary, let’s move ahead with what to include in it:

1. The Management Team

An organization’s entire management team can be divided into parts — the internal team and the external team. Let us see those in detail:

The Internal Management Team

A business team consists of several departments. The most common departments are—marketing, sales, IT, customer service, operations, finance, and HR.

These departments depend on the nature and functioning of your business. For example, a dental clinic may not require a sales department per se.

The entire management team is distinguished according to their responsibility. This helps the business owners and investors be aware of the roles, benefits, ESOPs (if applicable), profit sharing (for sales), work contracts, NDAs (Non-Disclosure Agreements), and Non-Competition Agreements of the entire team.

It is recommended that business owners collect and document the following information about their team:

  • Educational Background
  • Work Experience
  • Accomplishments

For example, your present VP of Marketing helped their previous company grow its bottom line from $3 million to $10 million over 18 months.

The External Management Team

The external management team is usually composed of—advisory board members and professional services.

Advisory board members help by:

  • Bringing their industry expertise, experience, and knowledge to the table.
  • Offering strategic advice and helping the business develop long-term goals with future considerations in mind.
  • Having a lot more contacts than any other individual can help businesses grow.

Credible advisory board members show great commitment to a company’s growth. Therefore, it becomes important to mention their experience and specialization in the business management plan.

The advisory board members can help give valuable advice that internal team members need or lack.

Usually, board members meet quarterly or monthly to provide strategic guidance in place of stock options in your company. This helps attract the best advisors and motivates them to invest in your business.

On the other hand, professional service helps by

  • Offering highly specialized advice and sharing knowledge.
  • Helping through the implementation process of strategies.

Such services help businesses leverage skills that would be difficult to build and acquire over a short period.

Examples of such professional services are:

  • IT Consultants
  • Business coaches and consultants

After a brief overview of the management team, let’s move forward.

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what is the management team in a business plan

2. The Management Team Gaps

The management team gap is an important part of the management section. Primarily because it helps document if your management team currently has gaps or missing skills.

Your team may lack a few required skills while starting. The management team gaps help you to be aware and make efforts to close this gap.

As a business owner, you must document what positions are missing and who ought to fill those positions or take responsibility.

For example, if you need a VP of Sales, clearly document this in the section.

Also, write down the job description and key responsibilities to be undertaken. For example—you might mention that the role requires 10 years of experience in the sales domain. The applicant must have experience handling a sales team, closing new accounts, and working in tandem with the marketing team.

Be as detailed as possible. This will help you build a checklist while interviewing the right candidate and also win investor confidence in your managerial skills.

Here are a few key positions you would want to include in your management team business plan:

  • Founder and/or CEO
  • Chief Technical Officer (CTO)
  • Chief Marketing Officer (CMO)
  • Head of Product Management (PM)
  • VP of Sales
  • VP of Marketing
  • Business Development Manager
  • Customer Service Manager
  • Sales Managers/Sales Staff
  • Human Resources Manager
  • Advisory Board Members

3. The Management Structure

The management structure defines how a business organizes its management hierarchy. A hierarchy helps determine all team members’ roles, positions, power, and responsibilities.

The management structure also depends upon the type of business ownership. Business ownership can be—a sole proprietorship, partnership, or LLC.

Following is a sample management structure of an organization.

The Management Structure

Now that we understand what details we need to document in business management plans, let’s have a look at the example.

Example of a Management Section Plan

[management section of a hotel], [management team], internal team members.

Name: Charles Fargo Role: Owner Responsibility: Formulating key strategies, defining budgets, and building a business plan Experience: 35 years of owning multiple hotels in Las Vegas Educational Background: B.Sc in Hospitality Management from South Dakota State University.

Name: Michael Clark Role: General Manager Responsibility: Overall hotel operations – guest interactions, revenue management, brand ambassador of the hotel, customer satisfaction, and experience, leadership to all departments Experience: 25 years working with several technology hotels as the general manager. Educational Background: MBA from Wharton School

Name: George Trump Role: Department Manager Responsibility: Manage employees, smooth coordination amongst employees, plan daily affairs of the department, strategize, prepare reports, and deal with complaints and suggestions. Lead team members to function as a team Experience: 15 years working as a department manager Educational Background: BSc in Hotel Management from Texas University

Note: There can be multiple Department Managers depending on the nature of your business. In the case of hotels, departments can include – housekeeping, logistics, security, food, and banquets.

Name: Donald Clooney Role: Marketing and Sales Manager Responsibility: Increase occupancy and generate revenue. Position the hotel as an option for leisure activities, relaxation, and holidays. Experience: 11 years working as the marketing and sales manager for hotels Educational Background: MBA in Tourism and Hospitality from Midway University

Name: Oprah Williams Role: Human Resources Manager Responsibility: Recruit and train hotel staff, maintain smooth onboarding process for new recruits, train, counsel, and coach staff, resolve conflicts, and conduct performance reviews Experience: 9 years working as human resources manager for hotels Educational Background: MBA in Human Resources Management from California University

External Team Members

Advisory Board Member

#1 Richard Branson Responsibility: Strategic advisory for sustainable growth and expansion Experience: Founder of Virgin Group

Professional Services

#1 Digital Marketing Agency – Neil Patel – Help market and sell our product using digital mediums – blog, website, YouTube, and social media.

[Management Structure]

Example Of A Management Section Plan

There is a gap in one key position in our startup.

#1 Chief Finance Officer (CFO) Responsibilities: Finance, Accounting, Tracking Profit and Loss, and overseeing FP&A (Financial Planning and Analysis)

So, that’s it for today! Now that you know how to write a management team section, make sure you write the best one by mentioning all the necessary details.

If you are still confused about writing the management team sections, then you can visit various sample business plans to know more. You can even use smart business planning software to smooth your business planning process.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What tone should i use when writing the management team section.

When writing about your management team in your business plan, use a tone that’s confident, professional, and positive. This shows investors that your team is experienced, qualified, and able to lead your company to success.

Who should be included in the management team's business plan?

In the management team of a business plan, you should include all the key members of the company:

  • Top management
  • Founder/CEO
  • VP of sales

Do I need to include personal information about team members?

In a business plan, it’s not necessary to include personal information about team members unless it directly relates to their role in the business. The focus should be on professional qualifications, experience, and skills that are relevant to their position.

About the Author

what is the management team in a business plan

Upmetrics Team

Upmetrics is the #1 business planning software that helps entrepreneurs and business owners create investment-ready business plans using AI. We regularly share business planning insights on our blog. Check out the Upmetrics blog for such interesting reads. Read more

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How to Write the Management Team Section to Your Business Plan Think you've got an all-star lineup? These are the key characteristics to showcase.

By Eric Butow Oct 27, 2023

Key Takeaways

  • Who to include in your org chart
  • The key traits to highlight

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

This is part 2 / 9 of Write Your Business Plan: Section 3: Selling Your Product and Team series.

One crucial aspect of any business plan is the management team slide, which outlines the key employees in the organization. Here are some things to keep in mind when putting together your all-star lineup.

Put Yourself First

Don't be modest. If you're the head of the business, you should feature yourself first. After all, you are the entrepreneur behind the business venture, and you will have to put your neck on the line, answer the hard questions, and take the criticism— as well as the praise and acclaim, should there be some.

If you want to impress people with your management team, it's essential to let your readers know who is at the helm and who is selecting the management team. Explain your background, including your vision, your credentials, and why you chose the management team you did.

A business follows the lead of the founder, and as such, you need to briefly explain what is expected of this management team and the role you see it, as a group, playing in the future of this business.

Related: Does Your Team Have the Right Stuff to Attract Venture Capital?

Highlight These Characteristics

Identifying your managers is about presenting what they bring to the table. You can provide this by describing them in terms of the following characteristics:

Education Impressive educational credentials among company managers provide strong reasons for an investor or other plan reader to feel good about your company. Use your judgment in deciding what educational background to include and how to emphasize it. If you're starting a fine restaurant, for example, and your chef graduated at the top of her class from the Culinary Institute of America, play that front and center. If you're starting a courier service and your partner has an anthropology degree from a little-known school, mention it, but don't make a big deal out of it.

Employment Prior work experience in a related field is something many investors look for. If you've spent ten years in management in the retail men's apparel business before opening a tuxedo outlet, an investor can feel confident that you know what you're doing. Likewise, you'll want to explain your team members' key, appropriate positions. Describe any relevant jobs in terms of job title, years of experience, names of employers, and so on. But remember, this isn't a resume. You can feel free to skim over or omit any irrelevant experience. You do not have to provide exact dates of employment.

Related: How to Craft a Business Plan That Will Turn Investors' Heads

Skills A title is one thing, but what you learn while holding it is another. In addition to pointing out that you were a district sales manager for a stereo equipment wholesaler, you should describe your responsibilities and the skills you honed while fulfilling them. Again, list your management team's skills that pertain to this business. A great cook may have incredible accounting skills, but that doesn't matter in the new restaurant's kitchen.

Each time you mention skills that you or a management team member has spent years acquiring at another company, it will be another reason for an investor to believe you can do it at your own company.

Accomplishments Dust off your plaques and trot out your calculator for this one. If you or one of your team members has been awarded patents, achieved record sales gains, or once opened an unbelievable number of new stores in the space of a year, now's the time to talk about it. Don't brag. Just be factual and remember to quantify. If, for example, you have twelve patents, your sales manager had five years of thirty percent annual sales gains, and you oversaw the grand openings of forty-two stores in eleven months, this is the stuff investors and others reading your business plan will want to see. Investors are looking to back impressive winners, and quantifiable results speak strongly to businesspeople of all stripes.

Personal information Investors want to know with whom they're dealing in terms of the personal side. Personal information on each member of your management team may include age, city of residence, notable charitable or community activities, and, last but not least, personal motivation for joining the company. Investors like to see vigorous, committed, and involved people in the companies they back. Mentioning one or two of the relevant personal details of your key managers may help investors feel they know what they're getting into, especially in today's increasingly transparent business climate.

Related: How to Evaluate Your Startup Like a VC

Who to Include in Your Plan

Should you mention everyone in your organization down to shop foremen or stop with the people on your executive committee? The answer is probably neither. Instead, think about your managers in terms of the crucial functions of your business.

In deciding the scope of the management section of your plan, consider the following business functions, and make sure you've explained who will handle those that are important to your enterprise:

  • Advertising
  • Distribution
  • Human Resources
  • Technical Operations

Related: How To Build a Team of Outside Experts for Your Business

What Does Each Person Do?

There's more to a job than a title. A director in one organization is a high and mighty individual, whereas a director is practically nobody in another company. Many industries have unique job titles, such as managing editor, creative director, and junior accountant level II, with no counterparts in other industries.

In a longer plan, when you give your management team's background and describe their titles, don't stop there. Go on and tell the reader exactly what each management team member will be expected to do in the company. This may be especially important in a startup, where not every position is filled. If the CFO will handle your marketing work until you get further down the road, let readers know this upfront. You certainly can't expect them to figure that out on their own.

In a shorter business plan, or mini-plan , choose those people most vital to your business. If you are opening a martial arts studio, the instructors, or lead instructors, are significant, as is the software developer in a new software company. While you have room to describe these people in more detail in a longer plan, in the shorter miniplans, use one defining sentence for your top five people.

Related: 6 Tips for Making a Winning Business Presentation

Future Hires

If you do have significant holes in your management team, you'll want to describe your plans for filling them. You may say, for example, "Marketing duties are being handled temporarily by the vice president for finance. Once sales have reached the $500,000 per month level, approximately six months after startup, a dedicated vice president of marketing will be retained to fulfill that function."

In some cases, particularly if you're in a really shaky startup and need solid talent, you may have to describe in some detail your plans for luring a hotshot industry expert to your fledgling enterprise. Then, briefly describe your ideal candidate. For a mini-plan, you may write, "We plan to hire a marketing VP who excels in reaching our 20–29 target market."

Related: Vusi Thembekwayo's 7 Rules of Pitching

More in Write Your Business Plan

Section 1: the foundation of a business plan, section 2: putting your business plan to work, section 3: selling your product and team, section 4: marketing your business plan, section 5: organizing operations and finances, section 6: getting your business plan to investors.

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what is the management team in a business plan

How to Write the Management Team Section of a Business Plan

Of course, they'll read the market analysis section – and you can expect them to linger over the financial projections section. But if there's one section of a business plan that may carry the greatest weight with lenders, investors and potential strategic partners, it's the management team section. This is where you provide details about the education, qualifications and experience that you and your management team bring to your small business. Written in a crisp and focused manner, the management team section should help those third parties recognize what sets your business apart from others. And it should give meaning to that oft-repeated business maxim: "I don't invest in ideas; I invest in people."

what is the management team in a business plan

Gather Key Information

Before you put pen to paper – or your fingers to the keyboard – gather the information you need on your management team. At the least, you should have their resumes handy – and include them in the appendix of your business plan.

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Also, be prepared to speak with members of your management team to fill in any blanks. Structure the management team section to include:

  • Biographical information about you, the owner, and any other owners. Specify your ownership percentage and exactly what your day-to-day responsibilities will be.

One Paragraph Poses One Big Challenge

Like many small-business owners, you may not think of yourself as a writer. So you may be relieved to know that you should devote only about one paragraph to each person you profile in the management section. But in the end, that should be one substantive paragraph, and it will require some finesse to pull it off.

As many writers will attest, being verbose isn't difficult; being concise yet enlightening can be a challenge. Put another way, you want to include only the most relevant and insightful information about your management team – and you want to be quick about it. So be prepared to edit your words ruthlessly as you structure the paragraph to include the team members' info:

  • Education and professional credentials and some personal information.

Expand the Second Component

Providing names and titles should be the easy part. The most robust part of your paragraph should proceed with ease if you include:

  • Education credentials,Employment highlights.Skills or specialties,Notable accomplishments,
  • Personal insights,

Spell Out the Third Component

Because you opened the paragraph with the person's name and title, you want to close it with a summation of the contributions you expect the person to make. Discretion here is important; you want to demonstrate to people reading your business plan that you've hired accomplished people, but you don't want to stray into the realm of hyperbole, either.

This said, after spelling out so many numbers and analytics in your business plan, the management section is your chance to expose the human side of your business. A good balance can be found in this paragraph:

Thomas Cole, Director of Marketing

A mass communication graduate of Illinois State University, Tom brings to us nearly 20 years of marketing experience and a proven ability to integrate best practices into emerging businesses. Websites, smartphones and digital marketing all came of age as the proud redbird worked as a district marketing manager for ABC Media and then marketing manager for XYZ Newspaper Group, both in Chicago. Tom helped these companies navigate sea changes in the newspaper industry and return to profitability by developing imaginative and synergistic marketing campaigns. We expect him to replicate these efforts at Write-On Marketing, at least when he's not busy critiquing the latest creations at his family's award-winning Illinois winery.

Assuming that you believe people are your greatest asset, write your management section like the proud small-business owner you are – your instincts should serve you well.

  • NFIB: Parts of a Business Plan: 7 Essential Sections
  • Inc.: How to Write a Great Business Plan: Management Team
  • Entrepreneur: First Steps: Writing the Management Section of Your Business Plan
  • BP Plans: Coffee Export Business Plan

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  • How to Write a Great Business Plan: Management Team

The ninth in a comprehensive series to help you craft the perfect business plan for your startup.

How to Write a Great Business Plan: Management Team

This article is part of a series on  how to write a great business plan .

Many investors and lenders feel the quality and experience of the management team is one of the most important factors used to evaluate the potential of a new business.

But putting work into the Management Team section will not only benefit people who may read your plan. It will also help you evaluate the skills, experiences, and resources your management team will need. Addressing your company's needs during implementation will make a major impact on your chances for success.

Key questions to answer:

  • Who are the key leaders? (If actual people have not been identified, describe the type of people needed.) What are their experiences, educational backgrounds, and skills?
  • Do your key leaders have industry experience? If not, what experience do they bring to the business that is applicable?
  • What duties will each position perform? (Creating an organization chart might be helpful.) What authority is granted to and what responsibilities are expected in each position?
  • What salary levels will be required to attract qualified candidates for each position? What is the salary structure for the company, by position?

The Management Team section for our cycling rental business could start something like this:

Jim Rouleur, Owner and Manager

Joe has over twenty years experience in the cycling business. He served for ten years as a product manager for ACME Bikes. After that he was the Operations Manager of Single Track Cycles, a full-service bike shop located in Bend, Oregon. He has an undergraduate degree in marketing from Duke University and an MBA from Virginia Commonwealth University. (A complete resume for Mr. Rouleur can be found in the Appendix.(

Mary Gearset, Assistant Manager

Mary was the 2009 U.S. Mountain Biking National Champion. She worked in product development for High Tec frames, creating custom frames and frame modifications for professional cyclists. She also has extensive customer service and sales experience, having worked for four years as the online manager of Pro Parts Unlimited, an online retailer of high-end cycling equipment and accessories.

In some instances you may also wish to describe your staffing plans.

For example, if you manufacture a product or provide a service and will hire a key skilled employee, describe that employee's credentials. Otherwise, include staffing plans in the Operations section.

One key note: Don't be tempted to add a "name" to your management team in hopes of attracting investors. "Celebrity" management team members may attract the attention of your readers, but experienced lenders and investors will immediately ask what role that person will actually play in the running of the business--and in most cases those individuals won't play any meaningful role.

If you don't have a lot of experience--but are willing to work hard to overcome that lack of experience--don't be tempted to include other people in your plan that will not actually work in the business.

If you can't survive without help, that's okay. In fact that's expected; no one does anything worthwhile on their own. Just make plans to get help from the right people.

Finally, when you create your Management section, focus on credentials but pay extra focus to what each person actually will do . Experience and reputation are great, but action is everything.

That way your Management section will answer the "Who is in charge?" question.

Next time we'll look at the next main component in a business plan: the ever-popular Financial Analysis .

More in this series:

  • How to Write a Great Business Plan: Key Concepts
  • How to Write a Great Business Plan: the Executive Summary
  • How to Write a Great Business Plan: Overview and Objectives
  • How to Write a Great Business Plan: Products and Services
  • How to Write a Great Business Plan: Market Opportunities
  • How to Write a Great Business Plan: Sales and Marketing
  • How to Write a Great Business Plan: Competitive Analysis
  • How to Write a Great Business Plan: Operations
  • How to Write a Great Business Plan: Financial Analysis

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How To Write a Management Team Business Plan (With an Example)

When creating a business plan, the management section outlines your management team, personnel, resources, and the ownership structure of your company. This section should not only list the members of your management team but also how their individual skill sets will affect your financial results. We’ll go into detail about how to put together and highlight your management team in this article. This section can be conveniently organized by dividing it into the following sections:

Writing the Management Team Section of Your Business Plan

How to write a management team business plan

Consider using these guidelines to produce a powerful team business plan:

1. Collect resumes from each manager

Typically, resumes outline a professional’s qualifications, including their training, prior employment, and technical and soft skills. You can use the resumes of your management team as a resource when writing content for your business plan. Ask each manager to send a fresh copy of their resume Asking them to modify their resume to reflect their specific position within your company could be useful and make it simpler for you to create their profiles. Include copies of their resumes as annexes to your proposal.

2. Organize your management team into categories

The next step is to depict the chain of command within your company. List the profiles, going from the company’s owners to the departmental supervisors in descending order. Your management team business plan can appear more organized by using categories, and your audience will understand how the teams’ qualifications correspond to their positions. If your company has multiple divisions, categories may also be useful.

3. Write the managers name and job title

Finding the manager on their individual profile is the third step. Include their role title and first and last names in your writing. Consider adding their department to distinguish between them if there are multiple managers with the same title. To be more specific, you could write “Assistant Manager, Marketing Department” for various employees with the title “assistant manager.”

4. Describe their employment history

The employment history details prior positions your managers held in the sector. Listing the candidates’ prior positions can support your decision to appoint them as managers if they have experience as organizational leaders. Summarize their responsibilities and projects theyve coordinated in the past. You can also highlight your managers’ achievements in this section, such as awards they have won or helpful things they have done for previous employers.

5. Explain their educational background

The manager profile’s education section covers the institutions your team attended and the degrees they obtained. It can further highlight the manager’s credentials by demonstrating that they have received the necessary training to oversee other team members in your organization. You can also write professional certifications your managers have. For instance, listing a certification in spreadsheet software may impress potential business partners if you run a technology company.

What is a management team business plan?

A management team business plan describes the qualifications and experience of a group of managers in a company. Its goal is to demonstrate to potential investors that the professionals your business has hired are qualified for leadership roles because they have training and experience. It includes details that distinguish your organization from competitors. A potential investor or business partner may be persuaded to provide funding or work with your company if your management team’s business plan impresses them.

Tips for writing a management team business plan

The following three rules will help you gather data and organize your management team business plan:

Incorporate relevant information

Include information that is relevant to their interests in your management profile as a way to attract potential investors. List the qualifications of your leaders in relation to your company and your sector. By including pertinent information, you can demonstrate to potential customers that your team has the managerial skills they need. Be selective when gathering information about your managers to avoid detracting the audience from your goal.

For instance, if you work for a ride-sharing company, you might be looking for partnerships to expand into major cities. You could note in your management team business plan that your executives have experience in customer service, technology, and transportation, three crucial areas that can help the ride-sharing business succeed. The strategy shows potential partners that your team has the expertise to work in the field, encouraging them to collaborate with your company.

Use straightforward wording

Simple language can keep your management team business plan clear and understandable. It’s crucial that customers can understand your company’s organizational structure and which employees are responsible for what tasks. The size of the business and the number of supervisors there are may have an impact on the length of the proposal. But even if your plan is more detailed, keeping your writing simple can help you keep the interest of potential stakeholders. It might be beneficial to reread your sentences and omit any pointless details so that you can convey the key ideas of your message in fewer words.

Clarify information with your team

It may be difficult to include every qualification of an employee on a resume because they are typically one page long. To learn more about your team members’ professional backgrounds, think about speaking with them directly. Find out if they have any additional pertinent information to include in their profile that will appeal to potential customers. Maybe you should mention a gap in their resume or point out that they have more work achievements you can list in their profile. Clarifying details with managers can help you plan the content more effectively and prevent repeating too many details from their resumes.

Example of a management team business plan

You can write a management team business plan that is successful by using the following example of a team member’s profile as a model:

Management Team Member Profile

Jane Stewart, Director of Marketing

The marketing division is headed by Jane Stewart, who is also the coordinator of marketing, social media manager, and graphic designer. Her duties include keeping an eye on social media engagement analytics and creating creative consumer engagement strategies. Stewart graduated from Pine Ridge University with a bachelor’s in marketing and a master’s in business administration. She is professionally certified in social media management and content marketing. Stewart’s previous position was assistant marketing director at full-service advertising agency Oak Wood, where she saw a 25% increase in email and video subscriber numbers.

How do you present a management team in a business plan?

An organizational chart of your small business, including departments, department managers, and employees, should be included in the management team section. Biographical information about you, the owner, and any other owners. Clearly state your ownership stake in the company and your day-to-day responsibilities.

How do you write a management plan for a business plan?

  • Indicate the number of employees your business will require at each stage and their associated costs.
  • Describe the specifics of how your company’s human resource needs can be satisfied.
  • Describe your hiring needs, including a list of the particular skills that any employees you hire must possess.

How important is management team in a business plan?

A strong management team is especially important if you want the company to expand and grow as a whole. A management team is crucial for distributing leadership responsibilities as a business expands. If your business operates in multiple locations, it is essential.

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How to Write the Management Team Section of a Business Plan

Editorial Team

Every business owner knows that starting a business requires a lot of planning. Coming up with a well-researched business plan is as important as coming up with the idea for the enterprise itself. In fact, this document covers everything one needs to know about the venture and more.

It is important to remember that this document has internal and external purposes, according to Deloitte & Touche LLP (2003). For internal purposes, a business plan serves as “an important management tool” such that “it enables management to plan company growth and to anticipate changes in a structured way” (p. 2). Meanwhile, the external use of this document can help the company secure funding, form alliances, establish mergers and acquisitions, and build relationships (pp. 1-2).

Given the vital role this document plays, entrepreneurs need to focus on the Management Team Section of a business plan. This article tackles the importance of this segment and how to proceed with writing it.

What is the Management Team Section of a Business Plan?

As mentioned, a business plan covers all kinds of information about the business. It is composed of an executive summary, company description, market analysis, and service or product line, just to name a few. All of these provide an insight into what the business will offer and how it will be able to reach its target market.

However, the Management Team section provides a view on how the organization will be managed. It aims to show the reader what the management team looks like, who will be running the business and its operations, and how these individuals can contribute to executing strategies and achieving goals.

According to Deloitte and Touche, “Your business plan should describe how the company is organized and what each individual’s duties and responsibilities are… It is also helpful to explain how the individual talents of the management team contribute to realizing the company’s strategy.”

These elements seek to show how competent and efficient the management team is or will be. Nevertheless, it is important to mention that it should also recognize shortcomings and gaps.

The Need for the Management Team Section

The importance of this section banks on the dual purpose of the business plan. Those who are planning to use it for external matters should keep in mind that potential investors and allies takes the strength of the management team into account as this can influence the success of the venture.

Similarly, the organization itself can use this to improve its operations. By identifying strengths and weaknesses, the company will know what aspects of the management team are performing optimally and what need improvement.

Tips for Writing the Management Team Section

Because the Management Team Section is an integral part of a business plan, it is essential to learn how to write it effectively. Here are some tips that can help entrepreneurs put together an excellent Management Team Section.

Determine the Business Structure

The first thing an entrepreneur needs to know about assembling a management team is that the need for certain roles depends on the business structure. There are different structures to choose from and all of them have an effect on the assets, liabilities, responsibilities, and operations.

According to the United States Small Business Administration (n.d.), some of the most common are sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company (LLC), and corporation. Startups are commonly sole proprietorships or partnerships.

As a sole proprietor of a business, the entrepreneur can have complete control, responsibility, and liability. Meanwhile, a partnership, which is a business owned by two or more people, can come in two types, namely limited partnerships (LPs) and limited liability partnerships (LLPs). In LPs, only one owner is given unlimited liability, while others have limited. LLPs provide limited liability to all owners.

Identify Essential Management Positions

Startups are typically small businesses. Sole proprietorships are owned by one founder and are bound to have a small management team. It may only be composed of the owner or founder (who is also the boss), some managers, and a human resource manager.

In partnerships, the team would be bigger as most or all partners are bound to have management roles. Co-owners can be managing partners, and junior or senior partners, for example. Depending on the scale of the business, the organization will need team leads, a human resource manager, and others. Partnerships may also choose to establish a management committee.

Make sure to take note of these positions in relation to the organizational structure when writing the business plan.

Look for People Who Fit the Job

This section of the plan is not supposed to be written in general terms. It needs to include particulars including names of people, their positions, and their qualifications. If used for external purposes, potential funders and allies will see the strengths and weaknesses of the team based on the people in it.

It is important to find human resources who are qualified and competent to perform the job of managing a team, hiring new people, and such. For partnerships, it is important to assign roles to partners who have experience and skills to fill them.

Document Assignments

Finally, it is essential to document these assignments in detail. This does not only mean including names, positions, and synopses. A more informational description of the person and their position is required.

In fact, Deloitte and Touche advises entrepreneurs to include resumes of the management team in the appendix, complete with their employment info, schools, and educational degrees. Compensation for the role is also important, especially for business plans which will be presented to investors.

The compensation includes salary, profit sharing, stock ownership opportunities, bonuses, and benefits. Investors need to know these details to see if the current plan is in line with their own financial capacity and goals.

Final Thoughts

The Management Team section is vital to the business plan no matter what the purpose is. With these writing tips, entrepreneurs and their partners can put together a section that is solid and fully informational in order to help them achieve their strategic goals.

References:

  • Deloitte & Touche. (2003). Writing an effective business plan. Retrieved from https://www.academia.edu/7094242/Fourth_Edition_Writing_an_Effective_Business_Plan .
  • Small Business Administration. (n.d.) Choose a business structure. Retrieved from https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/launch-your-business/choose-business-structure

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Writing the Organization and Management Section of Your Business Plan

What is the organization and management section in a business plan.

  • What to Put in the Organization and Management Section

Organization

The management team, helpful tips to write this section, frequently asked questions (faqs).

vm / E+ / Getty Images

Every business plan needs an organization and management section. This document will help you convey your vision for how your business will be structured. Here's how to write a good one.

Key Takeaways

  • This section of your business plan details your corporate structure.
  • It should explain the hierarchy of management, including details about the owners, the board of directors, and any professional partners.
  • The point of this section is to clarify who will be in charge of each aspect of your business, as well as how those individuals will help the business succeed.

The organization and management section of your business plan should summarize information about your business structure and team. It usually comes after the market analysis section in a business plan . It's especially important to include this section if you have a partnership or a multi-member limited liability company (LLC). However, if you're starting a home business or are  writing  a business plan for one that's already operating, and you're the only person involved, then you don't need to include this section.

What To Put in the Organization and Management Section

You can separate the two terms to better understand how to write this section of the business plan.

The "organization" in this section refers to how your business is structured and the people involved. "Management" refers to the responsibilities different managers have and what those individuals bring to the company.

In the opening of the section, you want to give a summary of your management team, including size, composition, and a bit about each member's experience.

For example, you might write something like "Our management team of five has more than 20 years of experience in the industry."

The organization section sets up the hierarchy of the people involved in your business. It's often set up in a chart form. If you have a partnership or multi-member LLC, this is where you indicate who is president or CEO, the CFO, director of marketing, and any other roles you have in your business. If you're a single-person home business, this becomes easy as you're the only one on the chart.

Technically, this part of the plan is about owner members, but if you plan to outsource work or hire a virtual assistant, you can include them here, as well. For example, you might have a freelance webmaster, marketing assistant, and copywriter. You might even have a virtual assistant whose job it is to work with your other freelancers. These people aren't owners but have significant duties in your business.

Some common types of business structures include sole proprietorships, partnerships, LLCs, and corporations.

Sole Proprietorship

This type of business isn't a separate entity. Instead, business assets and liabilities are entwined with your personal finances. You're the sole person in charge, and you won't be allowed to sell stock or bring in new owners. If you don't register as any other kind of business, you'll automatically be considered a sole proprietorship.

Partnership

Partnerships can be either limited (LP) or limited liability (LLP). LPs have one general partner who takes on the bulk of the liability for the company, while all other partner owners have limited liability (and limited control over the business). LLPs are like an LP without a general partner; all partners have limited liability from debts as well as the actions of other partners.

Limited Liability Company

A limited liability company (LLC) combines elements of partnership and corporate structures. Your personal liability is limited, and profits are passed through to your personal returns.

Corporation

There are many variations of corporate structure that an organization might choose. These include C corps, which allow companies to issue stock shares, pay corporate taxes (rather than passing profits through to personal returns), and offer the highest level of personal protection from business activities. There are also nonprofit corporations, which are similar to C corps, but they don't seek profits and don't pay state or federal income taxes.

This section highlights what you and the others involved in the running of your business bring to the table. This not only includes owners and managers but also your board of directors (if you have one) and support professionals. Start by indicating your business structure, and then list the team members.

Owner/Manager/Members

Provide the following information on each owner/manager/member:

  • Percentage of ownership (LLC, corporation, etc.)
  • Extent of involvement (active or silent partner)
  • Type of ownership (stock options, general partner, etc.)
  • Position in the business (CEO, CFO, etc.)
  • Duties and responsibilities
  • Educational background
  • Experience or skills that are relevant to the business and the duties
  • Past employment
  • Skills will benefit the business
  • Awards and recognition
  • Compensation (how paid)
  • How each person's skills and experience will complement you and each other

Board of Directors

A board of directors is another part of your management team. If you don't have a board of directors, you don't need this information. This section provides much of the same information as in the ownership and management team sub-section. 

  • Position (if there are positions)
  • Involvement with the company

Even a one-person business could benefit from a small group of other business owners providing feedback, support, and accountability as an advisory board. 

Support Professionals

Especially if you're seeking funding, let potential investors know you're on the ball with a lawyer, accountant, and other professionals that are involved in your business. This is the place to list any freelancers or contractors you're using. Like the other sections, you'll want to include:

  • Background information such as education or certificates
  • Services provided to your business
  • Relationship information (retainer, as-needed, regular, etc.)
  • Skills and experience making them ideal for the work you need
  • Anything else that makes them stand out as quality professionals (awards, etc.)

Writing a business plan seems like an overwhelming activity, especially if you're starting a small, one-person business. But writing a business plan can be fairly simple.

Like other parts of the business plan, this is a section you'll want to update if you have team member changes, or if you and your team members receive any additional training, awards, or other resume changes that benefit the business.

Because it highlights the skills and experience you and your team offer, it can be a great resource to refer to when seeking publicity and marketing opportunities. You can refer to it when creating your media kit or pitching for publicity.

Why are organization and management important to a business plan?

The point of this section is to clarify who's in charge of what. This document can clarify these roles for yourself, as well as investors and employees.

What should you cover in the organization and management section of a business plan?

The organization and management section should explain the chain of command , roles, and responsibilities. It should also explain a bit about what makes each person particularly well-suited to take charge of their area of the business.

Want to read more content like this? Sign up for The Balance’s newsletter for daily insights, analysis, and financial tips, all delivered straight to your inbox every morning!

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Management Team

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Dheeraj Vaidya

What Is A Management Team?

A management team typically refers to individuals who lead and oversee an organization’s operations. It is responsible for setting the organization's direction, making critical decisions, and ensuring it achieves its goals.

Management Team

Its objectives in a business are to ensure that the organization successfully achieves its goals and objectives while maintaining efficient operations and a robust organizational culture.

Table of contents

Management team explained.

  • Management Team vs. Board of Directors

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Recommended articles.

  • The management team plays a critical role in the organization's success by setting the direction and strategy for the company and ensuring that it is executed effectively.
  • It is responsible for various functions: planning, organizing, leading, controlling, staffing, directing, decision-making, and communicating.
  • It requires strong leadership skills, including motivating and inspiring employees, communicating a clear vision and goals, and providing guidance and feedback.
  • In addition, it must work collaboratively and leverage the strengths of each team member to achieve the organization's objectives.

A management team is a group responsible for leading and overseeing the organization's operations. This team typically includes senior executives with specific areas of responsibility, such as finance , operations, marketing , human resources, etc. These must be balanced, as they are critical in ensuring the organization's success.

Here are some key reasons why:

  • Setting strategic direction : A management team leader is responsible for setting the organization's strategic direction. They develop a clear and comprehensive strategic plan outlining the organization's goals and objectives, identifying its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats, and a roadmap for success.
  • Allocating resources effectively : It assigns resources such as time, money, and people to achieve the organization's objectives. They make informed decisions about investments, expenditures, and resource allocation to optimize the use of resources and achieve the best possible outcomes.
  • Managing operations efficiently : It must ensure that the organization's operations are managed efficiently to maximize productivity, minimize costs, and improve overall performance. This involves handling processes, systems, and people to ensure the organization operates efficiently.
  • Building a strong organizational culture : It creates and maintains a robust corporate culture that supports its objectives, values, and goals. This involves fostering a positive work environment, building strong employee relationships, and promoting a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.
  • Developing and leading a high-performing team : It must establish and lead a high-performing team capable of achieving the organization's objectives. This involves recruiting, training, and developing employees, providing effective leadership, and promoting teamwork and collaboration.

The structure of a business's management team depends on the organization's size and the team members' specific roles and responsibilities. However, most couples are structured hierarchically, with senior executives at the top and lower-level managers and supervisors reporting to them.

Here is a general overview of the typical structure of a management team in a business:

  • Chief Executive Officer (CEO): The CEO is the top executive in the organization and is responsible for the business's overall strategy. They oversee all departments and are ultimately accountable for the company's performance.
  • Chief Operating Officer (COO) : The COO oversees the organization's day-to-day operations. They handle all functional departments, including production, marketing, sales, and human resources, and ensure the organization runs efficiently.
  • Chief Financial Officer (CFO) : The CFO manages financial resources. They oversee accounting, financial reporting , budgeting , and forecasting, ensuring the organization is financially stable.
  • Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) : The CMO is responsible for developing and implementing the organization's marketing strategy. They oversee advertising, public relations, and other marketing efforts and ensure that the organization effectively promotes its products and services.
  • Chief Technology Officer (CTO) : The CTO oversees the organization's technology infrastructure and strategy. They manage the development and implementation of new technology initiatives and ensure that the organization uses technology to its fullest potential.
  • Department Managers/Supervisors : These managers/supervisors oversee specific functional areas such as production, sales, marketing, or human resources. They report to the COO or other senior executives and are responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of their departments.

The functions of a management team in a business plan are critical for the organization's success. These include planning, organizing, leading, and controlling, and they are essential for effective management and achieving the organization's goals.

  • Planning : It is responsible for setting goals, developing strategies, and creating plans to achieve them. Planning involves identifying the organization's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats and developing action plans to address them.
  • Organizing : It is responsible for organizing the resources needed to achieve the organization's goals. This includes managing people, financial, and physical resources such as equipment and facilities.
  • Leading : It provides leadership and direction to the organization. They motivate and inspire employees to achieve their best, communicate the organization's vision and values, and provide guidance to help employees develop their management team skills and abilities.
  • Controlling : It monitors and evaluates the organization's performance to ensure that goals are being achieved. This involves setting performance standards, measuring progress, and taking corrective action when necessary.
  • Staffing : It is responsible for staffing the organization with the right people. They recruit, select, and train employees to ensure the needed talent in the organization to achieve its goals.
  • Directing : It provides direction to employees, assigning tasks and responsibilities and setting expectations for performance. They also give feedback to employees on their performance and coach them to improve.
  • Decision-making : It is responsible for making decisions that impact the organization's success. The crisis management team analyzes data, evaluates options, and makes informed decisions that support the organization's goals.
  • Communicating : It communicates with employees, customers, shareholders , and other stakeholders to ensure everyone is informed about the organization's goals, progress, and plans.

Let us understand it in the following ways.

Suppose a company called "GreenTech" is in the news for its innovative approach to environmental sustainability. The CEO, COO, and CTO work closely to develop a strategy prioritizing renewable energy, waste reduction, and eco-friendly products. They invest in new technologies to reduce the company's carbon footprint and engage with customers and suppliers to promote sustainable practices. Their efforts earn them recognition as a leader in sustainable business practices.

The management team of Tesla , led by CEO Elon Musk, has been in the news for their innovative approach to electric vehicles and renewable energy. The team has a unique structure, with Musk overseeing all aspects of the business and a group of executives responsible for specific functional areas such as production, engineering, and marketing. As a result, they have successfully developed cutting-edge electric cars, solar panels, and energy storage systems, and their stock price has soared as investors recognize their potential.

However, the team has also faced criticism for production delays and safety concerns. Despite these challenges, Tesla's management team continues to push the boundaries of innovation and has become a symbol of the future of sustainable transportation.

Management Team vs Board Of Directors

The management team and board of directors play different roles in a company. The management team focuses on operations and tactical decision-making, while the board of directors provides strategic direction and oversight. However, there may be some overlap in responsibilities, and these two groups work together to ensure the company's success.

Some key differences between a management team and a board of directors:

  • Focus : The management team focuses on the business's day-to-day operations, while the board of directors has a broader focus on the company's overall strategic direction.
  • Authority : The management team is responsible for executing the strategies and plans developed by the board of directors, while the board of directors has ultimate control over the company's major decisions, such as mergers, acquisitions, and significant capital expenditures .
  • Structure : The management team typically comprises the CEO, COO, CFO, and other senior executives, while the board of directors includes a group of independent directors elected by shareholders.
  • Responsibilities : The management team implements policies and procedures, manages day-to-day operations, and makes tactical decisions. In contrast, the board of directors is responsible for setting strategic direction, overseeing management, and representing the interests of shareholders.
  • Accountability : The management team is accountable to the board of directors and must regularly report on the company's performance. In contrast, the board of directors is responsible to shareholders and must ensure that the company is managed in its best interests.
  • Term : The management team usually comprises full-time employees who work for the company. The board of directors includes independent directors who typically serve for a fixed period of several years.

A good fight requires a commitment to healthy debate, active listening, open-mindedness, and respect for each other's ideas. Following these principles can resolve conflicts and make better organizational decisions.

It is critical in helping organizations respond to and manage crises effectively. By having a well-trained and prepared team in place, organizations can minimize the impact of a problem and protect their reputation and stakeholders.

It is a critical document for any business. It provides a clear framework for how the management team will work together to achieve the organization's objectives and ensures everyone is aligned and working towards a common goal.

This article has been a guide to what is a Management Team. Here, we explain its examples, structure, functions, and comparison with the board of directors. You may also find some useful articles here -

  • Management Accounting
  • Management Reporting
  • Lead Management

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Business Plan Organization and Management: How to Write Guide .

Sep 17, 2023 | Business Consulting , Business Plan , Organization and Management , Organizational Development , Strategy

Every successful business plan should include a section on organization and management. This section will help you communicate your vision for your business's structure. Here's a guide on how to write an effective section.

Writing the Business Plan Organization and Management Section

It provides critical information for those looking for evidence that your staff has the necessary experience, skills, and pedigree to realize the objectives detailed in the rest of your business plan.

What Is the Organization and Management Section in a Business Plan?

The organization and management section of your business plan should provide details about your business structure and team. This section typically comes after the executive summary. However, some people have it further in the document after the market analysis section.

This section generally is separated into two parts. The first concerns the organization as a whole. It gives readers an overview of the company structure, which is an excellent opportunity for the reader to lift the roof off your office and peer into its inner workings. For your legal design, you may set up as a limited liability company (LLC) or nonprofit/ charity or form a partnership. It’s crucial to include this section. However, suppose you’re starting a home business or have an already operating business where you’re the only person involved. In that case, you can skip this section or show the company registration details from either the company’s house or the awarding .gov.

The second part focuses specifically on your management team and introduces readers to each member — your chance to impress them with the many accomplishments pinned to your organization’s management team.

This section may seem less important than some of the other parts of your business plan, but the truth is that your people are your business. If they’re highly competent and accomplished, the implication is that so is your business.

Of course, if you’re a sole proprietor with no management structure or any employees, this section is unnecessary other than to talk about yourself and your achievements.

Every successful business plan should include a section on organization and management. This section will help you communicate your vision for your business's structure. Here's a guide on how to write an effective section.

The section on organization and management should outline the hierarchy, individual roles, and corresponding responsibilities. It should also highlight each person’s strengths and qualifications for their positions.

Business Plan Organization Section

The organizational section of your business plan outlines the hierarchy of individuals involved in your business, typically in a chart format. This section identifies the President or CEO, CFO, Director of Marketing, and other roles for partnerships or multi-member LLCs. If you’re a single-person home business, this section is straightforward as you are the only person on the chart.

Although this section primarily focuses on owner members, you can include outsourced workers or virtual assistants if you plan to hire them. For example, you may have a freelance web admin, marketing assistant, or copywriter. You may even have a virtual assistant who coordinates with your other freelancers. While these individuals are not owners, they hold significant responsibilities in your business.

There are various business structures, such as sole proprietorships, partnerships, LLCs, and corporations.

Detail the Legal Structure within the Business Plan Organization and Management Section

Here is an indicative list of business structures. It would help if you talked to your accountant and legal advisors to determine which legal form is the best for your business proposition.

Sole Proprietorship

When embarking on a business venture, it’s essential to consider the various structures available. A sole proprietorship is a structure whereby the business is not regarded as separate from its owner’s finances. The owner retains complete control and responsibility for the company. However, they are unable to sell stocks or bring in new owners. The business becomes a sole proprietorship if not registered under any other structure.

Partnership

When forming a partnership, it can either be a limited partnership (LP) or a limited liability partnership (LLP). One partner assumes most liability in a limited partnership (LP). In contrast, the other partners have limited liability and control over the business. Alternatively, in a limited liability partnership (LLP), all partners have limited liability from debts and actions of other partners, and there is no general partner.

Limited Liability Company

A limited company (LTD) or limited liability company (LLC) is a mixture of business structures that mixes aspects of partnerships and corporations. It offers limited personal liability to the owner and passes profits through to their tax returns.

Corporation

There are various types of corporate structures. A C-corporation enables the issuance of stock shares, pays corporate taxes instead of personal returns, and provides the highest level of personal protection from business activities. On the other hand, nonprofit corporations are similar to C corporations. However, they do not aim to make profits and are exempt from state or federal income taxes.

More information on company legal structures is available on UK.Gov and USA.SBA websites.

Describe Your Company’s Organizational Structure

This first step illustrates the positions in your organization’s employee hierarchy and how they all relate to each other.

This is usually done graphically as a guide, using an organizational chart, or “org chart” for short. People use a Microsoft tool, i.e., PowerPoint or Excel, to help.

Organization Charts typically follow a top-down hierarchy, starting with your CEO/ Managing Director in the top box at the top of the page. Lines extend down from that person’s name to boxes containing the terms of the CEO’s direct reports.

We have included an example organizational chart below for guidelines only.

Showing an organizational structure for a business

Identify your business organization structure and list your team members’ strengths and skills.

Those managers then have lines extending to those who report to them, and so on, down to your lowest staff positions.

This section will give your readers a quick understanding of your management and governance structure, the size of your organization, and your lines of control and communication.

Describe your Team in your Business Plan Organization and Management Section

In your business plan’s Organization and Management section, please provide a detailed description of your team. Y ou will discuss the company’s management team, starting with the owners.

This section highlights who is involved in the running of your business and who are the support professionals. It also includes the roles and responsibilities of managers.

Suppose the company structure is a multi-owner arrangement or some other multi-owner arrangement. In that case, you’ll want to include information for every member and their percentage of ownership and ongoing involvement in the company.

It’s important to discuss how ownership interests are split, their responsibilities, what they did before securing their current position, and how they came to be involved with the company.

Here, it would help if you talked about some of your critical team members. These people are directly responsible for large portions of your business operations.

Owner/Manager/Members

Within your business o rganization and management section, y ou should introduce the team and talk about their experience, qualifications, previous companies and achievements, role in the company, and any special skills they bring with them. Please provide the following details for each owner, manager, or member of the business within your business plan:

  • Percentage of ownership (if applicable)
  • Level of involvement (active or silent partner)
  • Type of ownership (e.g., stock options, general partner)
  • Position in the company (CEO, CFO, etc.)
  • Responsibilities and Duties
  • Educational background
  • Relevant experience and skills
  • Previous employment history
  • Skills that will benefit the business
  • Awards or recognition received
  • Compensation structure
  • How each individual’s skills and experience will complement and contribute to the business’s success

Perhaps they’re an entrepreneur, business coach, exclusive advisor, or industry specialist to help you grow.

This is an ideal opportunity for companies with an Executive Board of Directors, Governance Structure, or Advisory Board to introduce them to your readers.

Executive Board

Having a board of directors is essential for your management team. Without one, you may be missing out on crucial information. This section includes details similar to those found in the ownership and management team sub-section, such as the names, areas of expertise, positions (if applicable), and involvement with the company of each board member.

Strategic Advisors

Suppose you’re looking for funding for your business or to fill a gap in your knowledge, or you may not have the funds to hire an executive board. In that case, you must inform potential partners and investors that you have a team of professionals assisting you. This includes lawyers, accountants, and any freelancers or contractors you may be working with. When listing these individuals, include their name, title, educational background, certifications, services they provide to your business, and their relationship with you (i.e., hourly rates, projects, retainer, as-needed, regular). Additionally, highlight their skills and experience that make them an asset to your team you need

Does anything else make them stand out as quality professionals (awards, past working with credible brands)?

Spotlight on the Wider Team Structure

Now, you’ve showcased the management team in its entirety. You can provide brief bios for hiring team needs or secondary members and talk at length about how the team’s combined skills complement each other and how they amplify the team’s effectiveness.

It’s also important to point out any gaps in the knowledge your team is currently suffering. Your readers will likely be savvy enough to pick up on existing holes.

Therefore, you’ll want to get ahead of these criticisms and demonstrate that you’re already aware of the positions and complementary skill sets your management team still requires and how you plan to address the knowledge gaps with future hires.

Do you need help writing your business plan o rganization and management section ? 

Every successful business plan should include the organization and management section, helping you communicate your legal structure and team.

Writing a business plan can seem overwhelming, especially when starting a small, one-person business. However, it can be a reasonably simple task. This section of the plan should be updated if there are any changes to the organization structure or team members, such as additional training, awards, or other resume changes that benefit the business.

Creating your comprehensive business plan takes planning, research, time, and a herculean effort. If, at any point, the work becomes too much to handle, we can step in to assist.

Do you want an expert “second opinion” before creating your business plan or financial forecasts? Let’s talk !

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How To Write the Management Team Summary of a Business Plan

The people responsible for the management of your company do matter to your lenders, investors, and potential strategic partners. This crucial part of your plan shows your investors how your business is structured, who is involved in your company’s development, including external resources, and how the whole industry is managed overall.

The management team summary of a business plan also highlights your team’s education, qualifications, and experience.  In turn, the summary then also showcases your company’s strengths and what sets your business apart from others. That’s why it’s essential to learn how to write the management team summary of a business plan.

Who to Include in Your Management Team Summary

1.your team founder(s) or leader(s).

It’s vital to introduce potential investors to the person(s) responsible for selecting and organizing your team. We call these the key leaders. You’ll want to highlight the person(s) background, vision, and credentials in detail and explain how exactly they choose this specific management team.

2.The Team Itself

Like with your team founder(s) or leader (s), you’ll want to include biographical information about the owner(s), including their skills and professionalism. This should be done with accuracy but also brevity. Highlight the following for each manager:

  • Educational credentials
  • Professional training (specific to the role)
  • Current and previous work experience relevant to the field
  • Skills and specialties
  • Accomplishments gained while working for the company
  • Community involvements

You can also include, if applicable, their age, the city where they live now, their most notable activities, and their motives to become part of the management team. We recommend adding an organizational chart, including departments, department managers, employees, and any relevant employee resumes, to the appendix of your plan. However, because a team rarely functions as an organizational chart indicates, we always recommend describing how key personnel will interact with each other and how their roles may cross paths.

3.The Board (if relevant)

If your management team also includes a board, introduce them here and why each board member was chosen to be a part of the board.

4.Outside Professionals

A team may not always include the people who work for a company. It could also include outside professionals who have lent their support and expert advice. This could include accountants, lawyers, public relations professionals, administrative support, or an external advisory board.

5.Business Structure

Is your company a sole proprietorship, an LLC, a partnership, or a corporation? It’s important to state this clearly here.

How long should the management team summary be?

When learning how to write the management team summary of a business plan, it’s crucial to exercise conciseness while still including the most relevant and insightful information about your management team. We recommend keeping the management summary to a single page or two at the most. If it’s any longer, it may not be read in its entirety.

To ensure that your summary is easy to read, keep it simple in form, function, and structure. This can be accomplished by using:

  • Subheadings
  • Infographics
  • An organization structure based on informational importance, starting with what you think needs more attention and emphasis and then follows up with other points.
  • Strong language with a tone that is authoritative, assuring, and affirmative

What If I Don’t Have a Management Team?

If you’re a start-up, it’s to be expected that you may not have a complete management team. That’s okay. In the process of learning how to write the management team summary of a business plan, you’ll evaluate the skills, experiences, and resources your management team will require. Focus on:

  • What type of people do you need as key leaders?
  • What duties will each position perform? What authority will be granted to each manager, and what responsibilities will be expected of them?
  • What salary levels will be required to attract these team members? What is the salary structure, by position, for the next three years?

Final Steps

Once your summary is complete, we always recommend passing it by your key personnel for their review. This ensures you’ve accurately described the roles, skills, and responsibilities as understood by the team. It will also show your team that you value their opinion, which can help motivate your staff and boost their productivity.  We also recommend reading your management team summary aloud to make sure it flows properly, and that points are well connected and clear to the reader.

With your management team summary complete, you want to demonstrate to lenders, investors, and potential strategic partners that you’ve hired accomplished people and have outlined their specific responsibilities within the company. It also backs up all the data you’ve included elsewhere in your business plan, by demonstrating your team’s expertise and capabilities for your company.  When written concisely and with focus, your management team summary will highlight what sets your business apart from the others.

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Management Team in a Business Plan

…we have put a team together…

What do the Investors look for in the Management Team?

Investors will be particularly interested to obtain answers to the following questions about the management team:

  • Does the team know its weaknesses?
  • Does each team member have a defined role to play?
  • Are there any previous working relationships within the team?
  • Is there a common objective for all team members?
  • Is there relevant experience relating to the business idea in the team?
  • What are the business ownership arrangements?
  • Is the team fully committed?

Business Plan Management Team Presentation

There is no set style for the presentation of the management team information in a business plan, but we suggest a simple format similar to that shown below. Full details and complete CV’s can be included in an appendix or submitted later if requested.

For each individual, the format shows details of their name, title and role in the business, and a brief biography of the person. The biography should have particular emphasis on the following characteristics and skills and show how they link back to the business idea discussed in elevator pitch section of the business plan contents article.

  • Past successes and failures.
  • Education and professional training.
  • Management and work experience.
  • Special skills related to the business idea.
  • Business reputation.

This is part of the financial projections and Contents of a Business Plan Guide a series of posts on what each section of a simple business plan should include. The next post in this series is defining the customer problem .

About the Author

Chartered accountant Michael Brown is the founder and CEO of Plan Projections. He has worked as an accountant and consultant for more than 25 years and has built financial models for all types of industries. He has been the CFO or controller of both small and medium sized companies and has run small businesses of his own. He has been a manager and an auditor with Deloitte, a big 4 accountancy firm, and holds a degree from Loughborough University.

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How to Describe the Management Team in Your Business Plan

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Long-term business success depends, above all, on the quality of the team providing the leadership, direction, and vision. In fact, in some cases, investors have funded start-up companies primarily on the basis of the people who will run them.

Assemble background information on yourself and each of your senior team members.

image0.jpg

In your business plan, condense each key person’s profile into a description of no longer than one-half page, following these tips:

When describing team members, include everything that’s relevant to the potential success of your business. But keep each biographical description brief, to the point, and less than a half page in length.

If yours is a single-person operation, you don’t have to spend too much time describing yourself in your plan, but do have a resume highlighting your education, experience, and accomplishments ready for when the information is requested by a banker, supplier, or prospective investor.

If you’re running a larger business, feature biographies of up to five top managers in your business plan, including all the big Cs: CEO (Chief Executive Officer), COO (Chief Operating Officer), CFO (Chief Financial Officer), and CTO or CIO (Chief Technology Officer or Chief Information Officer).

Depending on the size of your company, you may also want to include brief descriptions of the members of your Board of Directors, Board of Advisors, or consultants who play a major role in making your business a success.

You should also conduct a web search for the name of each person featured in your business plan to be sure the results lead to positive, credible, current information. Chances are good that prospective customers, investors, and suppliers will look for your company and the more visible people online as part of their research efforts, and you want links to lead to pages that affirm their interest.

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How to Write a Management Plan

Last Updated: September 18, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Madison Boehm . Madison Boehm is a Business Advisor and the Co-Founder of Jaxson Maximus, a men’s salon and custom clothiers based in southern Florida. She specializes in business development, operations, and finance. Additionally, she has experience in the salon, clothing, and retail sectors. Madison holds a BBA in Entrepreneurship and Marketing from The University of Houston. There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 247,753 times.

A management plan describes how an organization or business is run. Writing a management plan allows you to formalize your management structure and operations. It also ensures that everyone is on the same page and that your goals will be accomplished. You can easily write your own management plan with a few simple steps.

Management Plan Outline and Example

what is the management team in a business plan

Starting Your Management Plan

Step 1 Determine the need for a management plan.

  • Defining roles also creates accountability by making it clear who's fault it was that something did or did not happen. [3] X Trustworthy Source Kansas University Center for Community Health and Development Community-based research center focused on supporting public health development and education Go to source

Step 2 Outline your plan.

  • A section detailing management members and their responsibilities and authorities.
  • A chart of section detailing interactions between and responsibilities of each level of the organization.
  • A section explaining different aspects of your organization being managed and the policies and procedures of that management.
  • A schedule for updating, enhancing, and growing management and the management plan. [6] X Research source

Step 3 Describe your management structure.

Describing Ownership and Management

Step 1 Note what type of ownership policies are in place.

  • Include a copy of board policies, including election policies, term length, responsibility, authority, and conflict resolution. This information should already be stated in your operating agreement or other founding documents.

Step 3 Introduce the key management members.

  • List past positions and duties of each member that apply to their current management obligations. Explain how these obligations highlight applicable skills and strengthen the management positions.
  • Highlight all relevant educational backgrounds for each of the managers. Explain how their training will benefit the company. Only include the education that is relevant to the positions that they currently hold.
  • If you are the only employee in your business, be sure to include your own experience and strengths.

Step 5 Describe the hiring process.

  • Accountants.
  • Insurance brokers.
  • Consultants.

Step 7 Summarize your management team's abilities.

  • For example, “Our team, with its diverse array of skills, have a combined forty years of experience in this field. With our coordinated democratic structure, they can work together effectively to produce results. With this team, we are confident that our business will become profitable in two years.”

Step 8 Describe relationships between management, ownership, and employees.

Writing Out Policies and Procedures

Step 1 Consider your need for written policies.

  • For example, a policy might be using and selling only green materials and products. The procedures to support that policy might be shopping from approved green vendors or checking the environmental impact of each material or product used.

Step 4 Check that the policies fit in with your culture and philosophy.

Revising Your Plan

Step 1 Proofread your plan carefully.

  • When they approve, have all owners sign the plan before you submit it to your investors, bank, or fundraising bodies.

Step 5 Make a commitment to amend your plan as necessary.

  • Make sure there is a way for all management and employees to submit their feedback regarding the plan.
  • Then, create a method by which changes to the plan can be approved and instituted. [20] X Trustworthy Source Kansas University Center for Community Health and Development Community-based research center focused on supporting public health development and education Go to source

Expert Q&A

Madison Boehm

  • Many investors will read the management section of your business plan before any other section, including marketing and finances, so you want to make sure that you have the best proposal possible. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

what is the management team in a business plan

  • Do not neglect your management plan in favor of your financial plans. Both are equally important to a business plan. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 2

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  • ↑ Madison Boehm. Business Owner and Advisor. Expert Interview. 24 August 2021.
  • ↑ http://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/leadership/effective-manager/management-plan/main
  • ↑ https://www.brown.edu/research/conducting-research-brown/preparing-proposal/proposal-development-services/writing-management-plan
  • ↑ https://www.thebalance.com/how-to-write-the-management-summary-2951561
  • ↑ https://open.lib.umn.edu/humanresourcemanagement/chapter/4-1-the-recruitment-process/
  • ↑ https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/241072
  • ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/editing-and-proofreading/
  • ↑ http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/4533-business-plan-outline.html

About This Article

Madison Boehm

The best way to write a management report is to describe the company’s management structure in 10 to 20 pages. Name the board members and explain the company’s ownership policies. Introduce all management members and present the strengths of each team member. Then, write out workplace policies and procedures. Send the management report to the company’s bank, investors, or fundraising bodies. For more tips from our Financial Reviewer, like how to outline, format, and revise your plan, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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what is the management team in a business plan

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Develop your management team

All businesses need a range of skills to be able to survive and grow. As the owner of a small business it is likely that you will be called upon to perform several roles out of necessity. You will probably find that you are better at some roles than others.

If you want your business to grow it will reach a stage when these necessary skills need to be improved and extended. Getting the right mix of people to complement and reinforce your business is essential. Having an effective management team helps you to create a more efficient and capable business.

This guide outlines the thought processes and methods that will help you when setting up a management team. It also highlights the advantages of developing an effective management team for your business.

The role of the management team

Management team skill sets, building the team, training and development of managers, professional performance measurement, personal performance evaluation and rewards.

A single director or manager rarely has the combination of skills that a management team might have. Each member of a management team can concentrate on their own area of expertise. In addition, the business benefits from having its overall direction and goals viewed from different perspectives.

The rapport within a team is very important and can add further value beyond the individual talents and skills of each employee. Teams whose members relate well to one another contribute significantly to the overall success of their businesses. A disjointed management team could well put off anyone involved with your business, e.g. employees, customers, clients or suppliers. This could ultimately lead to corporate failure.

A strong management team is particularly significant if you want the business as a whole to grow and develop. As a business grows a management team is also important in spreading leadership responsibility. It is crucial if:

  • your business operates in more than one location
  • you are in more than one type of business/industry
  • your business has different cultures, for example after a merger or acquisition

It is worth remembering that management teams can also operate at different levels. Consider establishing teams to help run particular locations or divisions. This provides additional opportunities for staff development and involvement and will benefit your business.

It may be helpful to find a training course that covers the ways a management team can support your business.

The skills required to run a business successfully include:

  • sales and marketing
  • administration
  • procurement and buying

Not every business needs these competencies to the same degree or in the same combination. While all businesses need sales and administration skills, for some production will be critical, while in others buying ability will be more important.

A review of your business should identify skills that are important to it and those skills that your current staff, including yourself, already possess. Do these need developing with formal training or monitoring?

Some types of expertise might only be needed from time to time and it may be better to outsource as required, e.g. using a financial consultant on a short-term basis during a capital expansion phase.

Another option might be to use outside directors or non-executive directors, who can bring substantial commercial knowledge and experience on board.

One of your key tasks is to ensure that all roles and responsibilities are clear and that good communications structures are in place in both formal (management meetings, briefings, progress reports) and informal (team building sessions, general feedback) areas.

You might like to consider the following stages in developing your management team:

  • Review your business' progress to date and decide what direction you want it to go in.
  • Measure your performance in the market against your competitors. Analyse any strengths, weaknesses, opportunities or threats - commonly known as a SWOT analysis - to identify what gaps there are between where the business is and where you would like it to go.
  • Analyse what skills the business requires and consider what strengths and weaknesses you offer personally.
  • Learn the skills, potential and ambitions of your existing staff and consider less-defined skills such as leadership qualities.
  • Analyse the fit of existing skills to business requirements and establish priorities for the acquisition of missing skills.
  • Establish where staff development could fill skills needs and consider reallocation of responsibilities to create a genuine team, rather than a group of individual managers.
  • Re-examine any skills gaps.
  • Consider other options such as consultants, outsourcing, contract workers, with a cost/benefit analysis.
  • Look to permanent staff recruitment - where possible it is best to plan ahead by recruiting for future positions and anticipating any prospective skills gaps.

In developing a management team it is important to recognise that most people will need some help and training to be able to fulfil the new roles required of them - especially if they are being promoted from within an organisation.

Formal training may be appropriate to increase their specialist knowledge, but the main support will probably be to help them grow into their new management role with confidence.

There is a wide range of training options now available, including formal courses run externally or in-house. Internal, less formal training sessions can also prove useful, and individuals might benefit from on-the-job training, distance learning, or part-time college courses.

In addition to defined skills training, some thought should be given to developing team spirit and training managers in diversity and flexibility. Team-building exercises can play an important part in helping the management team to better understand and communicate with each other.

Development of a management team is an ongoing process. Performance feedback should identify skill gaps, leading to training and future improvement.

As you delegate management responsibility and become more removed from the day-to-day feel of the organisation, you will need to have in place good systems to be able to monitor performance. A suitable balance has to be achieved. You need sufficient feedback from managers to appreciate the overall position of the business, but you also have to allow them the freedom to be able to manage their designated areas.

Performance assessment can usually be divided into two parts - measurement and evaluation.

Performance measurement concentrates on key performance indicators (KPIs) , objective factors that can be clearly identified and measured, such as:

  • sales figures
  • production output
  • financial performance
  • machine downtime

Targets are the cornerstones of KPIs. Monitoring them should form part of a regular reporting system, perhaps in written monthly reports.

This should not replace more informal and subjective feedback - for example, at weekly progress meetings - to help keep you in touch. Take care to ensure that the team is not over-managed during this process.

Management experts are always considering ways of being able to quantify the less tangible factors of management performance. An example of such a tool is the balanced scorecard method.

The balanced scorecard method is a management tool that allows businesses to define their aims and put them into action. It then provides feedback that enables them to implement a program of continuous improvement.

In addition to measuring objective factors using key performance indicators, all managers should be part of a formal appraisal system to evaluate personal development.

A good appraisal system can be extremely useful in identifying support needs, and is also one of the best ways of judging performance, particularly in performance areas that are not so easy to measure. An appraisal allows personal objectives to be discussed and relevant tasks and targets to be agreed on.

An effective appraisal system should have four key stages:

  • Set objectives - be clear in your own mind what you want from employees and make sure they know what that is.
  • Manage performance - provide your employees with the tools, resources and training they need to perform well.
  • Carry out the appraisal - monitor and assess your employees' performance, discuss those assessments with your employees and agree on future objectives.
  • Provide rewards/remedies - consider pay awards and/or promotion based on the appraisal and decide how to tackle poor performance. However, be aware that there can be dangers as well as benefits to the linking of rewards to performance.

New assessment methodologies include the 360-degree appraisal , named from the all-round view it encourages - where input on a manager's performance is sought from as many relevant sources as possible such as managers, peers and junior staff.

Incentives at a management level need not always be financially related and can be tailored to different sorts of success. You should give thought to any major differentials between managers that might be created in any such incentive scheme.

Original document, Develop your management team , © Crown copyright 2009 Source: Business Link UK (now GOV.UK/Business ) Adapted for Québec by Info entrepreneurs

Our information is provided free of charge and is intended to be helpful to a large range of UK-based (gov.uk/business) and Québec-based (infoentrepreneurs.org) businesses. Because of its general nature the information cannot be taken as comprehensive and should never be used as a substitute for legal or professional advice. We cannot guarantee that the information applies to the individual circumstances of your business. Despite our best efforts it is possible that some information may be out of date.

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What Is a Business Plan?

Understanding business plans, how to write a business plan, common elements of a business plan, the bottom line, business plan: what it is, what's included, and how to write one.

Adam Hayes, Ph.D., CFA, is a financial writer with 15+ years Wall Street experience as a derivatives trader. Besides his extensive derivative trading expertise, Adam is an expert in economics and behavioral finance. Adam received his master's in economics from The New School for Social Research and his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in sociology. He is a CFA charterholder as well as holding FINRA Series 7, 55 & 63 licenses. He currently researches and teaches economic sociology and the social studies of finance at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

what is the management team in a business plan

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A business plan is a document that outlines a company's goals and the strategies to achieve them. It's valuable for both startups and established companies. For startups, a well-crafted business plan is crucial for attracting potential lenders and investors. Established businesses use business plans to stay on track and aligned with their growth objectives. This article will explain the key components of an effective business plan and guidance on how to write one.

Key Takeaways

  • A business plan is a document detailing a company's business activities and strategies for achieving its goals.
  • Startup companies use business plans to launch their venture and to attract outside investors.
  • For established companies, a business plan helps keep the executive team focused on short- and long-term objectives.
  • There's no single required format for a business plan, but certain key elements are essential for most companies.

Investopedia / Ryan Oakley

Any new business should have a business plan in place before beginning operations. Banks and venture capital firms often want to see a business plan before considering making a loan or providing capital to new businesses.

Even if a company doesn't need additional funding, having a business plan helps it stay focused on its goals. Research from the University of Oregon shows that businesses with a plan are significantly more likely to secure funding than those without one. Moreover, companies with a business plan grow 30% faster than those that don't plan. According to a Harvard Business Review article, entrepreneurs who write formal plans are 16% more likely to achieve viability than those who don't.

A business plan should ideally be reviewed and updated periodically to reflect achieved goals or changes in direction. An established business moving in a new direction might even create an entirely new plan.

There are numerous benefits to creating (and sticking to) a well-conceived business plan. It allows for careful consideration of ideas before significant investment, highlights potential obstacles to success, and provides a tool for seeking objective feedback from trusted outsiders. A business plan may also help ensure that a company’s executive team remains aligned on strategic action items and priorities.

While business plans vary widely, even among competitors in the same industry, they often share basic elements detailed below.

A well-crafted business plan is essential for attracting investors and guiding a company's strategic growth. It should address market needs and investor requirements and provide clear financial projections.

While there are any number of templates that you can use to write a business plan, it's best to try to avoid producing a generic-looking one. Let your plan reflect the unique personality of your business.

Many business plans use some combination of the sections below, with varying levels of detail, depending on the company.

The length of a business plan can vary greatly from business to business. Regardless, gathering the basic information into a 15- to 25-page document is best. Any additional crucial elements, such as patent applications, can be referenced in the main document and included as appendices.

Common elements in many business plans include:

  • Executive summary : This section introduces the company and includes its mission statement along with relevant information about the company's leadership, employees, operations, and locations.
  • Products and services : Describe the products and services the company offers or plans to introduce. Include details on pricing, product lifespan, and unique consumer benefits. Mention production and manufacturing processes, relevant patents , proprietary technology , and research and development (R&D) information.
  • Market analysis : Explain the current state of the industry and the competition. Detail where the company fits in, the types of customers it plans to target, and how it plans to capture market share from competitors.
  • Marketing strategy : Outline the company's plans to attract and retain customers, including anticipated advertising and marketing campaigns. Describe the distribution channels that will be used to deliver products or services to consumers.
  • Financial plans and projections : Established businesses should include financial statements, balance sheets, and other relevant financial information. New businesses should provide financial targets and estimates for the first few years. This section may also include any funding requests.

Investors want to see a clear exit strategy, expected returns, and a timeline for cashing out. It's likely a good idea to provide five-year profitability forecasts and realistic financial estimates.

2 Types of Business Plans

Business plans can vary in format, often categorized into traditional and lean startup plans. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) , the traditional business plan is the more common of the two.

  • Traditional business plans : These are detailed and lengthy, requiring more effort to create but offering comprehensive information that can be persuasive to potential investors.
  • Lean startup business plans : These are concise, sometimes just one page, and focus on key elements. While they save time, companies should be ready to provide additional details if requested by investors or lenders.

Why Do Business Plans Fail?

A business plan isn't a surefire recipe for success. The plan may have been unrealistic in its assumptions and projections. Markets and the economy might change in ways that couldn't have been foreseen. A competitor might introduce a revolutionary new product or service. All this calls for building flexibility into your plan, so you can pivot to a new course if needed.

How Often Should a Business Plan Be Updated?

How frequently a business plan needs to be revised will depend on its nature. Updating your business plan is crucial due to changes in external factors (market trends, competition, and regulations) and internal developments (like employee growth and new products). While a well-established business might want to review its plan once a year and make changes if necessary, a new or fast-growing business in a fiercely competitive market might want to revise it more often, such as quarterly.

What Does a Lean Startup Business Plan Include?

The lean startup business plan is ideal for quickly explaining a business, especially for new companies that don't have much information yet. Key sections may include a value proposition , major activities and advantages, resources (staff, intellectual property, and capital), partnerships, customer segments, and revenue sources.

A well-crafted business plan is crucial for any company, whether it's a startup looking for investment or an established business wanting to stay on course. It outlines goals and strategies, boosting a company's chances of securing funding and achieving growth.

As your business and the market change, update your business plan regularly. This keeps it relevant and aligned with your current goals and conditions. Think of your business plan as a living document that evolves with your company, not something carved in stone.

University of Oregon Department of Economics. " Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Business Planning Using Palo Alto's Business Plan Pro ." Eason Ding & Tim Hursey.

Bplans. " Do You Need a Business Plan? Scientific Research Says Yes ."

Harvard Business Review. " Research: Writing a Business Plan Makes Your Startup More Likely to Succeed ."

Harvard Business Review. " How to Write a Winning Business Plan ."

U.S. Small Business Administration. " Write Your Business Plan ."

SCORE. " When and Why Should You Review Your Business Plan? "

what is the management team in a business plan

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7 Skills You Need to Effectively Manage Teams

Female manager leading business team meeting

  • 07 Jan 2020

To effectively manage a team, you need several key characteristics and skills. Without them, it can be difficult to rally your employees to work toward common goals and perform at their best—which can be disastrous for both your organization and career.

Whether you're an aspiring manager, newly appointed leader without a lot of experience, or seasoned executive who's had difficulty overseeing your team, developing these critical skills will prove crucial to your success.

Access your free e-book today.

Team Management Skills All Professionals Need

1. clear, effective communication.

As a manager, your goal is to help the members of your team complete tasks in a manner that is efficient, consistent, and aligns with the company’s overarching strategic goals. To accomplish this, you must clearly articulate what those strategic goals are—while also detailing the specific work and processes that will be required of your team to reach them.

By becoming a more effective communicator , you'll remove confusion among your team and ensure everyone is aligned and working toward the same goals.

2. Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence refers to an individual’s ability to manage their emotions, as well as those of others.

A highly developed level of emotional intelligence is a hallmark of strong managers and leaders. Someone with a keen sense of self-awareness, empathy, and other social skills is someone who can motivate and influence others —an important quality for managers to exhibit.

3. Organization

You may be responsible for overseeing budgets and project timelines in addition to the daily tasks that members of your team perform. Juggling so many moving pieces and making necessary adjustments along the way requires a high degree of organization.

4. Ability to Delegate

However tempting it might be for you to micromanage members of your team, doing so can be detrimental to progress.

A good manager knows how to delegate work to others. This involves understanding who's best suited to complete a particular task. It also requires ensuring an employee has the required resources to be successful and feels empowered to make their own decisions.

5. Openness

Openness goes hand in hand with both emotional intelligence and effective communication.

It’s important that the members of your team feel comfortable approaching you when they have questions or concerns, or when they need clarification on what's expected of them. If your employees don't believe they can reach out to you, there’s a risk that problems or concerns will go unaddressed before it's too late to correct them.

6. Problem-Solving

No matter how well prepared, organized, or established a project or process is, every manager runs into problems. This could be in the form of a missed deadline or milestone. It could be budgetary in nature. It could involve an unforeseen breakdown in the supply chain.

Whatever the case, managers must be skilled problem-solvers. The ability to evaluate a challenge, think critically about potential solutions, and formulate a response are essential to anyone who's tasked with leading a team.

7. Decision-Making

Over the course of a day, managers might be responsible for making a number of decisions that impact their team or the project they're overseeing. Prioritizing tasks, allocating resources, delegating duties—each of these is a decision that falls to the manager.

Sometimes, a manager will need to make an authoritative decision to resolve an issue. Other times, decision-making might involve consensus building, wherein members of the team are invited to participate in the discussion and help guide the process. Ultimately, the manager is responsible for the outcome of the decision and, as such, must be comfortable with ensuing results.

Which HBS Online Leadership and Management Course is Right for You? | Download Your Free Flowchart

How You Can Develop Your Team Management Skills

If you want to take your team management skills to the next level, there are several steps you can take to improve them. These include:

  • Taking stock of your current skills. To chart a path for your professional development, you first need to understand where your management skills currently stand . What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? Where are your greatest opportunities to turn development into career success? These insights will help you create a plan that's right for you.
  • Setting goals for improvement and development. Once you have a sense of your current skills, you need to set goals for your development efforts. Which skills do you need to improve? How will you measure success? What is your timeframe? By setting specific and attainable goals, you give yourself something to work toward and increase your chances of success.
  • Inviting feedback from your team. If you're unsure about your current abilities or where you should prioritize growth, consider turning to co-workers for feedback. This can be invaluable in helping you identify your strengths and weaknesses.
  • Practicing your skills. Practice your skills both in and out of the office. If you find that a project has suffered setbacks due to poor communication, for example, identify the point of confusion and make a mental note to avoid this in the future. Or, if a project has become bogged down due to micromanaging, find methods to help you manage from a perch instead of down in the trenches.
  • Pursuing professional development. Professional development can be a valuable asset in helping you reach your managerial potential. Signing up for a management training course can help you quickly develop your management skills, while pursuing mentorship opportunities can aid you throughout the trajectory of your career.

In Management Essentials , students are given the tools and opportunities they will need to improve their management skills and become more effective managers within their organization. Is Management Essentials the right HBS Online leadership and management course for you? Download the free flowchart to find out.

what is the management team in a business plan

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COMMENTS

  1. How to Write the Management Team Section of a Business Plan

    A management team business plan is a section in a comprehensive business plan that introduces and highlights the key members of the company's management team. This part provides essential details about the individuals responsible for leading and running the business, including their backgrounds, skills, and experience. ...

  2. How To Write the Management Section of a Business Plan

    The management section of a business plan helps show how your management team and company are structured. The first section shows the ownership structure, which might be a sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation. The internal management section shows the department heads, including sales, marketing, administration, and production.

  3. How To Write a Management Team Business Plan (With an Example)

    Example of a management team business plan Use the following example of one team member 's profile to guide you in writing a successful management team business plan: Management Team Member Profile Jane Stewart, Director of Marketing Jane Stewart leads the marketing department, serving as the direct supervisor of the marketing coordinator, social media manager and graphic designer.

  4. How to Write Management Team Section in a Business Plan

    The management section of a business plan is an in-depth description of a business's team, its structure, and the owners of a business. The section discusses ‌who is on the management team—internal and external, their skill sets, experiences, and how meaningfully they would contribute to an organization's mission statement and goals.

  5. How to Write the Management Team Section to Your Business Plan

    This is part 2 / 9 of Write Your Business Plan: Section 3: Selling Your Product and Team series. One crucial aspect of any business plan is the management team slide, which outlines the key ...

  6. How to Write the Management Team Section of a Business Plan

    Structure the management team section to include: An organizational chart of your small business, including departments, department managers and employees. Biographical information about you, the ...

  7. How to present the management team in your business plan?

    As a general rule of thumb, 2 to 3 paragraphs per individual can be considered a good starting point. This recommendation may need to be modified depending on the size of your management team and the specific characteristics of your industry: If your business has less than five people: each member of the management team is crucial.

  8. How to Write a Great Business Plan: Management Team

    For example, if you manufacture a product or provide a service and will hire a key skilled employee, describe that employee's credentials. Otherwise, include staffing plans in the Operations ...

  9. How to Write a Management Team Business Plan (Plus Tips)

    Follow these steps when writing the management team section of a business plan: 1. Compile relevant managerial resumes. Resumes are useful in outlining a professional's qualifications, educational history, work experience, and skills. The streamlined nature of a resume to the specific requirements of a role makes it helpful in writing a ...

  10. How To Write a Management Team Business Plan (With an Example)

    Include copies of their resumes as annexes to your proposal. 2. Organize your management team into categories. The next step is to depict the chain of command within your company. List the profiles, going from the company's owners to the departmental supervisors in descending order. Your management team business plan can appear more organized ...

  11. How to Write the Management Team Section of a Business Plan

    The Management Team section is vital to the business plan no matter what the purpose is. With these writing tips, entrepreneurs and their partners can put together a section that is solid and fully informational in order to help them achieve their strategic goals. References: Deloitte & Touche. (2003). Writing an effective business plan.

  12. Writing the Organization and Management Section of Your Business Plan

    This document can clarify these roles for yourself, as well as investors and employees. The organization and management section should explain the chain of command, roles, and responsibilities. It should also explain a bit about what makes each person particularly well-suited to take charge of their area of the business.

  13. Management Team

    The management team plays a critical role in the organization's success by setting the direction and strategy for the company and ensuring that it is executed effectively. It is responsible for various functions: planning, organizing, leading, controlling, staffing, directing, decision-making, and communicating.

  14. Business Plan Organization and Management: How to Write Guide

    The organization and management section of your business plan should provide details about your business structure and team. This section typically comes after the executive summary. However, some people have it further in the document after the market analysis section. This section generally is separated into two parts.

  15. How To Write the Management Team Summary of a Business Plan

    2.The Team Itself. Like with your team founder (s) or leader (s), you'll want to include biographical information about the owner (s), including their skills and professionalism. This should be done with accuracy but also brevity. Highlight the following for each manager: Educational credentials. Professional training (specific to the role ...

  16. Management Team in a Business Plan

    The management team is a crucial factor when drawing up a business plan proposal for investors. The investors will be much more concerned about the executive team than they are about the business idea itself. They know that the manner in which the business plan is put into practice and the difference between success and failure will depend on ...

  17. How to Describe the Management Team in Your Business Plan

    In your business plan, condense each key person's profile into a description of no longer than one-half page, following these tips: When describing team members, include everything that's relevant to the potential success of your business. But keep each biographical description brief, to the point, and less than a half page in length.

  18. What Are Management Teams? Definition and How To Build Them

    A management team is a group of high-level associates hired by a business owner to take on essential responsibilities within the business. These individuals make up the highest levels of management within a company or business, and each specializes in a different area of managing a business, such as: Accounting. Marketing.

  19. How to Write a Management Plan (with Examples)

    For example, ownership might be divided in a partnership agreement or to holders of stock in the company. 2. Name your board members. If your business has a board, you should clearly identify its members. Write a brief summary of their leadership capabilities, past experiences, strengths, and weaknesses.

  20. Develop your management team

    A strong management team is particularly significant if you want the business as a whole to grow and develop. As a business grows a management team is also important in spreading leadership responsibility. It is crucial if: your business operates in more than one location. you are in more than one type of business/industry.

  21. Business Plan: What It Is, What's Included, and How to Write One

    Key Takeaways. A business plan is a document detailing a company's business activities and strategies for achieving its goals. Startup companies use business plans to launch their venture and to ...

  22. 7 Skills You Need to Effectively Manage Teams

    Team Management Skills All Professionals Need. 1. Clear, Effective Communication. As a manager, your goal is to help the members of your team complete tasks in a manner that is efficient, consistent, and aligns with the company's overarching strategic goals. To accomplish this, you must clearly articulate what those strategic goals are ...

  23. Plan Your Development to the PMI Talent Triangle

    Ensuring teams have these skills allows them to maintain influence with a variety of stakeholders - a critical component for making change. Business Acumen Professionals with business acumen understand the macro and micro influences in their organization and industry and have the function- or domain-specific knowledge - to make good decisions.