The business plan must include a description of your business as well as information on you and your assets. The executive summary, mission statement, and business overview will help you organize the rest of the business plan. Potential investors will flip to these items first; if what they read doesn't pique their interest, they won't read further.

Executive Summary

Now that you have considered your financial, marketing, and operational plans, you know what it will take to make your business succeed. Highlight the most compelling portions of your business plan and summarize them in this section. Outline your vision for your business, and take a few paragraphs to explain how you expect to accomplish your goals. Make bulleted lists of objectives and keys to success. Include charts and graphs showing projected revenues. Clearly state why your business will succeed and what gives it a competitive edge in the catering market.

Mission Statement

Your mission statement encapsulates your long-term plans. It provides a focus for your business plan. A mission statement should spell out your optimistic vision and state your commitment to your business and the community you serve.

Business Overview

Write a one-page description of your business so that a potential investor or lender can quickly understand what it is you're trying to do and what it is that's going to set you apart and enable you to succeed. Start with the concept you have developed.

As part of the business description, include a paragraph on your business mission. Address these questions:

• How will your company compete in the marketplace?

• What services will you provide? Outline the focus of your catering business, whether it's formal or informal, centered around large weddings or moderate home parties.

• How aggressive will you be in capturing market share?

• How will you contribute to the local community? Will you support community organizations and local school teams? Will you strive to use as many local ingredients and services as possible and recycle as much of your materials as possible?

Resume

Include your personal resume targeted toward cooking and food-service businesses. Highlight past experience that will help you in your new endeavor. Highlight past project management, sales, public relations, finance, and, of course, cooking and event-management skills.

Potential investors and lenders will look at your resume to assess your track record and skill set. Based on your resume, the rest of the business plan, and the personal impression you make, they'll decided whether you have what it takes to create and run a successful business. Whether they're right or wrong, one thing is for sure — it's their decision to make, and they'll make up their mind quickly, so make sure to present yourself in the best possible light.

Personal Financial Statement

Create a statement that includes all your personal assets and debts. Debts include any outstanding bank loans, credit card balances, student loan balances, personal mortgages, car lease payments, and any other monies that you may owe. List all of your real assets in a separate section. Include any real estate that you own and the current market price of any stocks, mutual funds, or bonds in any investment accounts, including retirement accounts. You don't have to list any spousal or child support that you receive or the value of any trust accounts, but listing those amounts will help you get loans.