Business Plan-Business Management Plan for Agriculture
Throughout the Agriculture Business Course you will be responsible for forming a Business Plan, that will
be part of your final grade. The purpose of this plan is to enhance knowledge learned in the classroom
and apply this information to a real life setting. The Ag Business Plans can be completed as single or
with one other partner and will be introduced in parts as information is taught within the year. At the
end of the year, the entire plan will be due and presented to classmates.
All parts of the Agriculture Business Plan must be typed, creativity as well as accuracy is important and
will be evaluated.
Part 1
Cover Page (All Typed on 1 sheet of paper, information centered & at least 1 graphic needed)
Information Needed:
-Name of Business ( Be Creative)
-Company Address ( This should be the area you plan to have the business, other information builds
upon this area)
-Phone Number
-Email Address
-Name of Preparer ( That’s you, or you and a partner)
-Graphic-At Least one graphic that depicts your business)
( Cover Page- Total 12 points)
Page One
1. Business Structure: In a typed paragraph ( at least 4 complete sentences), explain your business
structure you have chosen and why you chose that business structure model. Identify and
explain two advantages and two disadvantages that you foresee of this business structure. Also
explain if this business has stockholders, board of directors, a partner, or CEO and list who
individuals.
2. Brief Overview of the Business: In a typed paragraph ( at least 4 complete sentences) What will
you do will it be a service or good and explain why, what will be the size, scope, what will your
produce or what will be your service.
3. Company Goals-List at least 5 SMART Goals that you want your business to accomplish within
the first year of operation.
4. Create a Motto/Slogan-Create a motto that describes your business and will also be a form of
advertisement/marketing.
5. Mission Statement-Create at least a two sentence mission statement, overall what do you want
to provide as part of your business. See examples from in class.
Page Two
6.
Design a flow chat or concept model of how the company will work, how management will
work within your company, who will answer to who ( Use class model for guidance)
(Page One-Total 30 points)
Part 2
1. Job Description-Provide a job description for at least employees you plan to hire as well as
yourself, you must have at least 1 employee beyond yourself/partner. Separate the job
description for you and the employee. The job description should be at least 3 sentences long
and include a detailed plan what you want the employee /yourself to be responsible for on a
daily bases. If you are in a partnership, you need job description/responsibilities for each
partner.
2. Establish a salary for your employee(s)- You will need to decide if this is hourly or yearly wages.
3. Establish a salary/% of income, for yourself and partner if partnership.
4. What qualifications will your employee(s) need to have –What are you looking for in your
employees, such as high school diploma, 3 years’ experience in your area, interest in area,
associate degree, etc). You need to list at 4 qualifications in sentence form.
5. What benefit plan will you offer to your employees-Full Time versus Part Time-Insurance,-Will
you offer health, visual, dental, cell phone, company car, retirement plan ( 401K, Roth), vacation
days, sick leave-be specific etc. You need to offer at least 3 different options.
6. What qualities will you be looking for in your employees-Name your top 4 qualities that you
will be looking for in an employee and how through the hiring process will you determine that
your candidates possess these qualities.
7. Explain your hiring process-Job Application, Resume, Interview, Reference Checks
(Part 2-35 points)
Part 3
1. Capital Items Needed-Develop a list of capital items that you will need to get your business
started. Also include approx. value for the capital items. Also identify with each item if they will
be purchased or leased and provide reasoning with each capital item purchased.
2. Location for Business-Select a location for your business, look on-line and find the necessary
land, commercial building, farm etc that you want to purchase. Please attach the actually listing
of the property.
3. Factors to Consider in Selecting Lender-Identify 4 factors to consider in selecting a lender and
explain the importance of each factor.
4. Select a Lender-Determine what bank/credit union that you will borrow money from for your
business. List 3 item that you will take along to get the loan/what does the bank require from
you to get a loan?
5. Potential Risk-Identify 5 potential risk of your business, explain why you have selected these
areas of risk and explain three ways how you will reduce potential risk to your business.
6. Budget-Establish a line item budget for your first year of operation in excel. (15 points)
(Part 3-40 Points)
Part 4
1. Security Plan-Identify a security plan for your business, list at least 4 items your business would
install/enforce as part of your security plan (doors locked etc) and explain why you listed these 4
areas.
2. Employee Handbook/Security Plan-You can design this on the computer or use a half of sheet
of poster board, develop a biosecurity plan/handbook that you would share with your
employees/visitors (similar) to the swine sheet shared in class. Include 6 to 8 Include 6 to 8
pictures of biosecurity measures that you would take to make your business to minimize risk and
ensure safety for other people, animals, etc. ( Areas to consider: Security related to food,
purchasing food/supplies, Isolation of new animals, sick animals, movement of people and
animals, visitors, procedures for cleaning and disinfecting, procedures for employees,
procedures for removing biosecurity hazards such as cats, dogs, birds, etc.) Include the picture
with a description, such as what should be done to have correct biosecurity/security plan for
your business. Make this neat, so it could be displayed at your operation. (20 Points)
(Part 4-25 Points)
Part 5
1. Price-Establish a price for your product/service and explain why that price was selected and
which form of pricing does it represent based on class power points.
2. Target Audience-Who will be the target audience for your product/service and explain why this
group was selected?
3. Researching/Survey-Explain at least 5 steps that you would go about researching to determine
if a need exist for your product/service. A survey would work be a great explain of
documentation used to determine need.
4. Sell/Market-How will you market/sell your product and explain why you selected this method,
examples include: own store, online , catalog, telemarketing etc.
5. Competitor-Identify one competitor in your area, with the same product/service as you, identify
two advantages that have over your product/service and identify two advantages that you have
over the competitors.
6. Advertising- Identify 3 forms of advertising that you would use to make your product or service
gain awareness, explain why you selected these methods and design one method of advertising
such as newspaper add, magazine layout, radio commercial, display, billboard, catalog. (25
points)
7. Features-Identify at least 5 features/benefits of your product/service.
8. Promotional Material-Identify and design one promotional material that you could use as part
of your service/product, such as coupon, sale flyer, open house flyer, game prize etc. ( 25 points)
9. Sales Presentation-Develop a sales presentation that is at least 5 to 7 minutes in length, that
includes a display board, this sales demonstration needs to demonstrate or show the features of
your product. The display must include key features/benefits of your product/service as well as
address, phone, email, prices, promotional materials, advertisements and but not limited to
graphic design. If you are in a partnership both partnership must sell. ( Points-35 points)
Part 6-110 Points
Total Project-240 Points