How to Write a Business Plan in English: 6 Techniques to Write a Clear and Convincing Business Plan

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Would you like to learn how to write a business plan in English? Try these techniques to write a clear and convincing business plan in English.

“Standing for something isn’t just about writing it down. It’s about believing it and living it.”
― Jason Fried, author of the book Rework

Whenever I have an idea, my enthusiasm sparks 50 more ideas.

Ideas are not the problem – I have hundreds of ideas in my notebook. The problem is making things happen.

Therefore, we need a business plan. A business plan is a written plan to help you implement your idea.

When I wrote my first real business plan, it was too long. My first business plan was over 100 pages long. And I was not happy with it.

I wanted to include everything. That is a problem.

When the business plan is too long, it’s easy to lose focus.

However, this is not ideal if you want to convince your investors or partners.

You also need to focus to keep things clear for yourself, especially when you are starting a new business.

How to Write a Business Plan in English: Be Clear and Convincing

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So, how do you write a great business plan in English?

Whether you are writing your first or thirteenth business plan in English, it can be a scary task.

But a well-written text with clear and convincing language can save many ideas.

Two things matter especially:

Clear language

The business plan serves as a guide for you and other people who are interested in your business.

Above all, it needs to be clear. Stick to the essentials – when it comes to your ideas and your language.

You can achieve clarity by:

cutting out needless words
using clear words instead of complicated ones

Convincing language

You are making all that effort to write the plan, so you want to convince other people of the validity of your business.

You want to show your enthusiasm in your text.

Convince the reader by using proper English words and professional vocabulary:

include power words
use strong verbs instead of adjectives

Business Plan Writing Tip #1: Cut Useless Words

“Writing is easy. All you have to do is cross out the wrong words.”
– Mark Twain

First, you want your idea to be understood.

Cut all the unnecessary words to make your message clear.

Long phrases that you can replace with one word:

due to the fact that → because
a decreased amount of → less
in the near future → soon
the great majority of → most

Phrases (often used as sentence starters) that you can completely cut:

there are, there is…
it is well known that…
it should be pointed out that…
as it has been shown…

Avoid using ‘not’ when you can make a positive statement instead:

not discover → overlook
do not have → lack
not many → few
not important → trivial

Business Plan Writing Tip #2: Use Clear Words

When writing a business plan in English, using the right words is imperative: interesting, varied, and precise words that mean exactly what you want the reader to know.

Challenge yourself to use a variety of words to describe your ideas precisely.

As a result, your business plan will be clear and enjoyable to read.

On my blog, you can find many ideas to grow your English vocabulary.

Replace some common English words with more informative options:

Business Plan Writing Tip #3: Use Power Words

A business plan serves to impress the reader.

However, whenever you write a long text, there is a danger of sounding repetitive and boring.

Fill your business plan with words that give your text energy instead of monotony.

Instead, replace overused and trendy English words. They are often vague, so it will be hard to convince your reader.

Your text will be more persuasive if you avoid certain English words.

Conversely, power words are strong, descriptive words that the reader finds more believable and impressive.

I encourage English learners to create their own list of power words. You can have this list ready whenever you write something important in English.

Add new fitting words you learn over time and use them often.

Think of some power words for your business plan and try to include them.

Power verb ideas:

accelerate
accomplish
achieve
boost
affect
envision
excel
flourish
fuel
impact
improve
increase

Ideas for power adjectives:

active
breakthrough
effective
efficient
enhanced
excellent
high-quality
valuable

Business Plan Writing Tip #4: Use Powerful Verbs Instead of Adjectives or nouns

Verbs bring energy into your writing.

Whenever you can, use active verbs instead of adjectives or nouns.

Replace nouns with verbs:

response → respond
assumption → assume
provide a description of → describe
make a decision → decide

Moreover, try to use a variety of verbs. Verbs should describe an action.

Avoid these weak verbs that do not focus on any action:

make
do
use
have
be

Business Plan Writing Tip #5: Use Writing Tools

Tap into the help of technology when it comes to writing in English.

While you do not have to write perfectly, you should edit your draft vigorously.

Use a proofreader to find mistakes, avoid errors, and give you helpful suggestions. Grammarly is my favorite writing tool. You can use the Grammarly app or browser extension to correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar mistakes. I use Grammarly for everything I write.
For a greater variety of words, use a thesaurus. You can find powerful alternative words. As a result, your business plan will sound more compelling.

Energize Your Writing: 3 Ways to Find English Synonyms (Words with Similar Meanings)

I also recommend Writefull, a writing tool, to English learners who write for work and in academia. Whenever you are unsure how to use a word in English, you can look it up on Writefull and see how it is used in context with examples from real texts, such as books, news, and scientific articles.
You can also use a special business plan writing tool, PlanSnack, to write your business plan more efficiently. The free software offers five steps. It is easy and fast to get your business plan ready. However, the business plan will be rather short, so you can decide if you want to expand this plan.

In addition, consider these great writing tools to help you write better texts in English.

Business Plan Writing Tip #6: Think About the Reader

Last but not least, think about the reader of your business plan:

What will the reader find intriguing?
How can you present your ideas so that he or she will enjoy reading the final document?

The way you describe your ideas matters. Yet, the presentation is also crucial.

Make sure the document is easy to read, easy to follow, looks nice and visually appealing, too.

Only include noteworthy numbers and relevant data.
Use impressive research findings and facts.
Add visually appealing figures, graphs, and other visuals.
Make sure the document’s overall presentation of your business plan looks presentable (font, footnotes, consistency).
Choose a fitting color palette, a set of approx. 3 matching colors that you use throughout the document. The colors should fit the business’ theme.

Conclusion: How to Write a Business Plan in English

Writing a business plan in English is not as easy as we would like. Especially, if English is not your native language.

Nevertheless, we can use a few strategies to write a powerful and persuasive text in English.