software development business plan sample template

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Software Company Business Plan

High margins, low startup costs, global reach, and a recurring revenue model make starting a software company a lucrative and rewarding profession.

Need help writing a business plan for your software company? You’re at the right place. Our software company business plan template will help you get started.

Free Business Plan Template

Download our free software company business plan template now and pave the way to success. Let’s turn your vision into an actionable strategy!

• Fill in the blanks – Outline
• Financial Tables

How to Write A Software Company Business Plan?

Writing a software company business plan is a crucial step toward the success of your business. Here are the key steps to consider when writing a business plan:

1. Executive Summary

An executive summary is the first section planned to offer an overview of the entire business plan. However, it is written after the entire business plan is ready and summarizes each section of your plan.

Here are a few key components to include in your executive summary:

• Introduce your Business: Start your executive summary by briefly introducing your business to your readers.This section may include the name of your software company, its location, when it was founded, the type of software company (E.g., enterprise software companies, mobile app development companies, data analytics companies), etc.
• Market Opportunity: Summarize your market research, including market size, growth potential, and marketing trends. Highlight the opportunities in the market and how your business will fit in to fill the gap.
• Products and Services: Highlight the software company services you offer your clients. The USPs and differentiators you offer are always a plus.For instance, you may include custom software development, software consulting, software testing, etc as some of your services.
• Marketing & Sales Strategies: Outline your sales and marketing strategies—what marketing platforms you use, how you plan on acquiring customers, etc.
• Financial Highlights: Briefly summarize your financial projections for the initial years of business operations. Include any capital or investment requirements, associated startup costs, projected revenues, and profit forecasts.
• Call to Action: Summarize your executive summary section with a clear CTA, for example, inviting angel investors to discuss the potential business investment.

Ensure your executive summary is clear, concise, easy to understand, and jargon-free.

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2. Business Overview

The business overview section of your business plan offers detailed information about your company. The details you add will depend on how important they are to your business. Yet, business name, location, business history, and future goals are some of the foundational elements you must consider adding to this section:

• Enterprise software companies
• SaaS companies
• Mobile app development companies
• Web development companies
• Cybersecurity companies
• HealthTech companies
• Describe the legal structure of your software company, whether it is a sole proprietorship, LLC, partnership, or others.
• Explain where your business is located and why you selected the place.
• Owners: List the names of your software company’s founders or owners. Describe what shares they own and their responsibilities for efficiently managing the business.
• Mission Statement: Summarize your business’ objective, core principles, and values in your mission statement. This statement needs to be memorable, clear, and brief.
• Business History: If you’re an established software company, briefly describe your business history, like—when it was founded, how it evolved over time, etc.Additionally, If you have received any awards or recognition for excellent work, describe them.
• Future Goals: It’s crucial to convey your aspirations and vision. Mention your short-term and long-term goals; they can be specific targets for revenue, market share, or expanding your services.

This section should provide a thorough understanding of your business, its history, and its future plans. Keep this section engaging, precise, and to the point.

3. Market Analysis

The market analysis section of your business plan should offer a thorough understanding of the industry with the target market, competitors, and growth opportunities. You should include the following components in this section.

• Target market: Start this section by describing your target market. Define your ideal customer and explain what types of services they prefer. Creating a buyer persona will help you easily define your target market to your readers.For instance, businesses & entrepreneurs, the government sector, the public sector, or healthcare would be an ideal target audience for a software company.
• Market size and growth potential: Describe your market size and growth potential and whether you will target a niche or a much broader market.For instance; the global software market was 55.52 billion in 2022, so describe how much of the market you will cover and what will be the growth potential of your business.
• Competitive Analysis: Identify and analyze your direct and indirect competitors. Identify their strengths and weaknesses, and describe what differentiates your software company from them. Point out how you have a competitive edge in the market.
• Market Trends: Analyze emerging trends in the industry, such as technology disruptions, changes in customer behavior or preferences, etc. Explain how your business will cope with all the trends.For instance, cloud computing or artificial intelligence has a booming market; explain how you plan on dealing with this potential growth opportunity.
• Regulatory Environment: List regulations and licensing requirements that may affect your software company, such as intellectual property protection, software licensing, software licensing, data protection, antitrust & competition laws, etc.

Here are a few tips for writing the market analysis section of your internet software company business plan:

• Conduct market research, industry reports, and surveys to gather data.
• Provide specific and detailed information whenever possible.
• Illustrate your points with charts and graphs.
• Write your business plan keeping your target audience in mind.

4. Products And Services

The product and services section should describe the specific services and products that will be offered to customers. To write this section should include the following:

• Custom Software Development
• Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) Software
• Software as a Service (SaaS)
• Software Development Tools
• Software Consulting
• Software Maintenance and Support
• Software Testing and Quality Assurance
• Training and Documentation
• Industry focus: Mention the industries that your software company serves if it specializes in serving those sectors. Describe how the needs and challenges are addressed by the products and services you offer.
• Quality measures: This section should explain how you maintain quality standards and consistently provide the highest quality service. This may include bug-free software, User Experience, performance optimization, compliance & standards, etc.
• Additional Services: Mention if your software company offers any additional services. You may include services like custom software development, software consulting & advisory services, software training & documentation, etc.

In short, this section of your software company plan must be informative, precise, and client-focused. By providing a clear and compelling description of your offerings, you can help potential investors and readers understand the value of your business.

5. Sales And Marketing Strategies

Writing the sales and marketing strategies section means a list of strategies you will use to attract and retain your clients. Here are some key elements to include in your sales & marketing plan:

• Unique Selling Proposition (USP): Define your business’s USPs depending on the market you serve, the equipment you use, and the unique services you provide. Identifying USPs will help you plan your marketing strategies.For example, customized & tailored solutions, innovation & cutting-edge technology, or exceptional user experience, could be some of the great USPs for a professional software company.
• Pricing Strategy: Describe your pricing strategy—how you plan to price your products or services and stay competitive in the local market. You can mention any discounts you plan on offering to attract new customers.
• Marketing Strategies: Discuss your marketing strategies to market your services. You may include some of these marketing strategies in your business plan—social media marketing, Google ads, email marketing, content marketing, etc.
• Sales Strategies: Outline the strategies you’ll implement to maximize your sales. Your sales strategies may include partnering with other businesses, offering referral programs, etc.
• Customer Retention: Describe your customer retention strategies and how you plan to execute them. For instance, introducing loyalty programs, discounts or offers, personalized service, etc.

Overall, this section of your software company business plan should focus on customer acquisition and retention.

Have a specific, realistic, and data-driven approach while planning sales and marketing strategies for your software company, and be prepared to adapt or make strategic changes in your strategies based on feedback and results.

6. Operations Plan

The operations plan section of your business plan should outline the processes and procedures involved in your business operations, such as staffing requirements and operational processes. Here are a few components to add to your operations plan:

• Staffing & Training: Mention your business’s staffing requirements, including the number of employees or developers needed. Include their qualifications, the training required, and the duties they will perform.
• Operational Process: Outline the processes and procedures you will use to run your software company. Your operational processes may include requirements gathering, design & planning, development, deployment, project management, collaboration & communication, etc.
• Software & Tools: Include the list of software & tools required for a software company, such as cloud services & infrastructure, project management tools, Version Control Systems, collaboration & communication tools, etc.Explain how these technologies help you maintain quality standards and improve the efficiency of your business operations.

Adding these components to your operations plan will help you lay out your business operations, which will eventually help you manage your business effectively.

7. Management Team

The management team section provides an overview of your software company’s management team. This section should provide a detailed description of each manager’s experience and qualifications, as well as their responsibilities and roles.

• Founders/CEO: Mention the founders and CEO of your software company, and describe their roles and responsibilities in successfully running the business.
• Key managers: Introduce your management and key members of your team, and explain their roles and responsibilities.It should include, key executives(e.g. COO, CMO.), senior management, and other department managers (e.g. operations manager, customer services manager, product manager.) involved in the software company operations, including their education, professional background, and any relevant experience in the industry.
• Organizational structure: Explain the organizational structure of your management team. Include the reporting line and decision-making hierarchy.
• Compensation Plan: Describe your compensation plan for the management and staff. Include their salaries, incentives, and other benefits.
• Advisors/Consultants: Mentioning advisors or consultants in your business plans adds credibility to your business idea.So, if you have any advisors or consultants, include them with their names and brief information consisting of roles and years of experience.

This section should describe the key personnel for your software company services, highlighting how you have the perfect team to succeed.

8. Financial Plan

Your financial plan section should provide a summary of your business’s financial projections for the first few years. Here are some key elements to include in your financial plan:

• Profit & loss statement: Describe details such as projected revenue, operational costs, and service costs in your projected profit and loss statement . Make sure to include your business’s expected net profit or loss.
• Cash flow statement: The cash flow for the first few years of your operation should be estimated and described in this section. This may include billing invoices, payment receipts, loan payments, and any other cash flow statements.
• Balance Sheet: Create a projected balance sheet documenting your software company’s assets, liabilities, and equity.
• Break-even point: Determine and mention your business’s break-even point—the point at which your business costs and revenue will be equal.This exercise will help you understand how much revenue you need to generate to sustain or be profitable.
• Financing Needs: Calculate costs associated with starting a software company, and estimate your financing needs and how much capital you need to raise to operate your business. Be specific about your short-term and long-term financing requirements, such as investment capital or loans.

Be realistic with your financial projections, and make sure you offer relevant information and evidence to support your estimates.

9. Appendix

The appendix section of your plan should include any additional information supporting your business plan’s main content, such as market research, legal documentation, financial statements, and other relevant information.

• Add a table of contents for the appendix section to help readers easily find specific information or sections.
• In addition to your financial statements, provide additional financial documents like tax returns, a list of assets within the business, credit history, and more. These statements must be the latest and offer financial projections for at least the first three or five years of business operations.
• Provide data derived from market research, including stats about the industry, user demographics, and industry trends.
• Include any legal documents such as permits, licenses, and contracts.
• Include any additional documentation related to your business plan, such as product brochures, marketing materials, operational procedures, etc.

Use clear headings and labels for each section of the appendix so that readers can easily find the necessary information.

Remember, the appendix section of your software company business plan should only include relevant and important information supporting your plan’s main content.

This sample software company business plan will provide an idea for writing a successful software company plan, including all the essential components of your business.

After this, if you still need clarification about writing an investment-ready business plan to impress your audience, download our software company business plan pdf .

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Frequently asked questions, why do you need a software company business plan.

A business plan is an essential tool for anyone looking to start or run a successful software company business. It helps to get clarity in your business, secures funding, and identifies potential challenges while starting and growing your business.

Overall, a well-written plan can help you make informed decisions, which can contribute to the long-term success of your software company.

How to get funding for your software company?

There are several ways to get funding for your software company, but self-funding is one of the most efficient and speedy funding options. Other options for funding are

• Bank loan – You may apply for a loan in government or private banks.
• Small Business Administration (SBA) loan – SBA loans and schemes are available at affordable interest rates, so check the eligibility criteria before applying for it.
• Crowdfunding – The process of supporting a project or business by getting a lot of people to invest in your business, usually online.
• Angel investors – Getting funds from angel investors is one of the most sought startup options.

Apart from all these options, there are small business grants available, check for the same in your location and you can apply for it.

Where to find business plan writers for your software company?

There are many business plan writers available, but no one knows your business and ideas better than you, so we recommend you write your software company business plan and outline your vision as you have in your mind.

What is the easiest way to write your software company business plan?

A lot of research is necessary for writing a business plan, but you can write your plan most efficiently with the help of any software company business plan example and edit it as per your need. You can also quickly finish your plan in just a few hours or less with the help of our business plan software .

How do I write a good market analysis in a software company business plan?

Market analysis is one of the key components of your business plan that requires deep research and a thorough understanding of your industry. We can categorize the process of writing a good market analysis section into the following steps:

• Stating the objective of your market analysis—e.g., investor funding.
• Industry study—market size, growth potential, market trends, etc.
• Identifying target market—based on user behavior and demographics.
• Analyzing direct and indirect competitors.
• Calculating market share—understanding TAM, SAM, and SOM.
• Knowing regulations and restrictions
• Organizing data and writing the first draft.

Writing a marketing analysis section can be overwhelming, but using ChatGPT for market research can make things easier.

How detailed should the financial projections be in my software company business plan?

The level of detail of the financial projections of your software company may vary considering various business aspects like direct and indirect competition, pricing, and operational efficiency. However, your financial projections must be comprehensive enough to demonstrate a complete view of your financial performance.

Generally, the statements included in a business plan offer financial projections for at least the first three or five years of business operations.

What key components should a software company business plan include?

The following are the key components your software company business plan must include:

• Executive summary
• Business Overview
• Market Analysis
• Products and services
• Sales and marketing strategies
• Operations plan
• Management team
• Financial plan

Can a good software company business plan help me secure funding?

Indeed. A well-crafted software company will help your investors better understand your business domain, market trends, strategies, business financials, and growth potential—helping them make better financial decisions.

So, if you have a profitable and investable business, a comprehensive business plan can certainly help you secure your business funding.

What's the importance of a marketing strategy in a software company business plan?

Marketing strategy is a key component of your software company business plan. Whether it is about achieving certain business goals or helping your investors understand your plan to maximize their return on investment—an impactful marketing strategy is the way to do it!

Here are a few pointers to help you understand the importance of having an impactful marketing strategy:

• It provides your business an edge over your competitors.
• It helps investors better understand your business and growth potential.
• It helps you develop products with the best profit potential.
• It helps you set accurate pricing for your products or services.

About the Author

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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Software Development Business Plan [Sample Template]

By: Author Tony Martins Ajaero

Home » Business ideas » Technology Industry » Software & App Development Business

Are you about starting a software development company? If YES, here is a complete sample software development business plan template & feasibility report you can use for FREE .

A software development company is where software is not only developed but distributed for different purposes such as instructional, learning, calculation, entertainment, and assessment purposes. Before one can start a software company, there are basic things that one needs such as a knowledge of programming, technical support skills, the necessary experience at managing a company and funds.

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However, before starting a software development business, it would be best to conduct a thorough market research of the industry

A Sample Software Development Business Plan Template

1. industry overview.

The software development industry has grown in the space of a century from an almost on-existent industry to one that is not only a billion dollar industry but an indispensable one, especially as software form the basis of modern gadgets and devices.

Between 2011 and 2016, this industry has been dynamic in growth, especially as there has been increasing demand from businesses and consumers, with more people spending their discretionary income on products such as video games.

The industry is being said to generate $205 billion and has a projected annual income of 3% from 2011 to 2016. There are more than 8,500 software development businesses in the united states of America that employs more than 455,000 people.

Globally as at 2013, according to Gartner, the software revenue was $407.3 billion which was a 4.8% increase from the #388.5 billion registered in 2012. The industry according to Forrester was projected to be the fastest growing in 2014 with a growth pegged at 7.1%.

The software development industry has room for growth as there is considerable demand in this industry with more businesses adopting software programs that will allow for improved efficiency and lower operating costs; this was so as to look for ways to not be affected by the economic downturn.

Cloud computing capabilities have created several advances for companies who have realized the positive effect of virtual offices and the savings implications for the company. This technology has helped companies to not only reduce overhead but increase productivity as well.

Another plus for companies are virtualizations which not only allow them to eliminate several server farms but has made IT infrastructure more economical and flexible while slashing operating costs.

There are moderate barriers for new businesses that wish to enter this industry; however, certain product segments have a higher barrier than others. One common thing in this industry is patents which serve as a means of limiting competition, even though some companies willingly license their patented technology.

2. Executive Summary

Doodle Tech Inc. is a leading software development business that is based in Market Street, Suite 800, San Francisco – California, USA. We are in business to develop software for general purposes and for specific purposes to our various clients. We have in place training services and we also offer technical support in line with our business.

Our location is very strategic in the sense that we are close to manufacturing firms as well as technology giants and other big businesses here in California that will ensure that we have an edge over other software companies in other parts of California.

We are in business to not only make profit but to also compete favorably against other software development companies in the industry and attain our vision of being the preferred software development company for clients all over the United States of America.

We intend to ensure that we demonstrate fair business ethics in every point of our business. We hold ourselves accountable for our high standards and ensure that all our employees are not only attuned to but display this standards at all times in order to positively promote the company.

As a result of this, we are willing to go the extra mile by putting in structures, processes and planes in place to ensure that we get the best professionals who not only have the expertise but are also competent and know how to take our company from where we are to where we intend to be.

Our employees have welfare packages that are currently amongst the best in the whole industry amongst similar startups such as ours. We have also provided a conducive environment for all our employees in order to ensure that they remain productive at all times in order to improve the bottom line of the company.

We offer excellent customer services that have been known to retain a high number of our clients. All our customer service executives have been trained to know how to respond to customers and are also updated as regards the industry trends in order to ensure that reliable information is passed to our clients.

Finally, the expertise of both our owners, Jack Taylor and Christopher Warden in software development and business management is a great plus as both are not only Harvard graduates but also have more than 30 years of combined experience that will ensure that Doodle Tech Inc. attains its goals and objectives in time.

3. Our Products and Services

Doodle Tech Inc. intends to deal in several services whilst also generating revenue that would boost our bottom line tremendously. These several services will be added to our core service and should keep us favorably disposed to compete against our competitors.

We however intend to ensure that all our multiple sources of income which include training and technical support are in line with what is obtainable in the industry and accordingly to the laws of the United States of America. Therefore some of the services and products we will engage in are;

• Developing of software according to clients’ specifications
• Sale of software
• Offering of subscriptions for our software
• Charging of license fees for our software
• Charging by transaction
• Advertisements on our software
• Training services
• Technical support

4. Our Mission and Vision Statement

• Our vision at Doodle Tech Inc. is to be distinct from other software development companies by creating software that suits the diverse needs of our end users, and to be the preferred software firm for users in the United States of America.
• In order to achieve our vision, we have on hand the best software developers that will ensure that we attain our goal of being the preferred software company and in meeting all the diverse software needs of our customers here in the United States of America.

Our Business Structure

We know how important it is to have the right business structure for our software development company as getting it right from the start will eliminate most hitches that will crop up relating to our structure during the course of running the business. For this purpose, we intend to hire only competent and professionals in the available positions in our company.

Due also to the fact that we intend to run a wide range of services, we intend to ensure that we employ those that are capable of filling in these different positions. All our employees are those who understand the industry well and who are attuned with our vision and are committed to ensuring that we attain these goals and objectives.

We are also prepared to ensure that our workers are well paid and have welfare packages that are the best in similar categories across start-ups such as ours in the industry. We will also ensure that the working environment is not only conducive but is one that will enhance their skills and make them more productive.

Below is the intended business structure for Doodle Tech Inc.;

Chief Executive Officer

Software Development Manager

Business Development Manager

Human Resources and Admin Manager

Customer Service Executives

Marketing Executives

Security Guard

5. Job Roles and Responsibilities

• Develop overall policies that would provide the right direction for the company
• Ensures that strategies are implemented and weak strategies are removed
• Meets and negotiate with high powered clients on behalf of the company
• Ensures that new software is developed and tested for bugs before being released to the public
• Develops new software for existing software so that clients can upgrade without running into hitches
• Carries out constant tests on software released to find out weak points and work on it.
• Researches on new businesses that will generate more revenue for the company
• Reviews company’s current products and services and decides how to make them better
• Works with the software development manager to give feedback on what the market trends are
• Prepares the budget on behalf of the firm and liaises with the owners to ensure that budget is reviewed and correctly implemented
• Prepares all the financial information and statement on behalf of the firm
• Ensures that tax is prepared and filed correctly to the correct authorities
• Ensures that the company’s books balances with that of the bank at the end of every month and accounting period
• Ensures that the right employees are recruited on behalf of the company
• Carries out orientation and ensures that employees are assigned the right tasks for their responsibilities
• Ensures that all the administrative functions of the company are performed smoothly without any hitches
• Ensures that all customers enquiries as well as complaints are well attended to and promptly resolved
• Keeps an accurate customer database on behalf of the company and ensures that it is regularly updated
• Carries out other duties as determined by the human resources and admin manager
• Conducts a marketing research on the software development industry to identify new markets for Doodle Tech Inc.
• Drafts strategies and reviews weak strategies to ensure that ineffective ones are removed
• Conducts direct marketing on behalf of the firm
• Meets and negotiates with high level clients on behalf of the firm
• Ensures that the premises and all the properties are secured after work hours by conducting patrols
• Monitors the surveillance cameras in line with securing people and property of Doodle Tech Inc.
• Keeps updated about the security information in the locality and pass along important security tips to staff
• Ensures that the premises is kept clean before work resumes
• Keeps the staff and guest conveniences clean at all times
• Ensures that cleaning supplies are always in stock
• Carries out any other duties as directed by the admin manager

6. SWOT Analysis

In order to determine if we were engaging in the right concept for our business, we hired the services of brand consultants who were not only reputable but the best here in San Francisco – California to let us know if it was worthwhile going into the business now.

The business consultants took a deep look at our strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to allow the know what we were likely to face starting and running our business here in San Francisco – California, and in the United States of America as a whole. The results of the SWOT analysis that was conducted on our behalf are as follows;

Our strengths are numerous and lie in the fact that we have the right business structure that will ensure that we conquer this industry. Our software developers are the best there is and have the expertise and experience to enable us attain our goals and objectives.

We are also involved in ensuring that our software pass through quality process, reason we have external testers who run several tests on any of our software before it is released. Finally, our owners have the necessary experience that would make our being at the top a piece of cake, as both have more than 30 years experience in the software industry both as developers and in managerial positions.

There are few weaknesses that we identified for Doodle Tech Inc. and they include the fact that we were going to develop software that were not really different from what our competitors were offering. Also, there is the other fact that we are located in an area where there are other software companies, making our location a bit saturated.

We are however confident that we would be able to battle whatever weaknesses might crop up during the course of running or starting the business.

• Opportunities

There are so many opportunities available to us as there are new market segments that we have identified which would likely generate money for us. There are so many strategic alliances which we would engage in so as to have a foot into other target markets and generate more revenue for our bottom line.

We also have the opportunity of moving into the international market as our software is such that has no boundary limits. Finally, we would fully tap into the internet in order to promote and increase awareness for our brand.

Threats are external factors that cannot be controlled by a business; however any serious business should not only be prepared for threats but also have ways by which these threats will not be allowed to totally affect the business.

Some of the threats we would likely face at Doodle Tech Inc. are; the arrival of a new competitor into our location, engaging in price wars with competitors, dealing with government policies that might have an effect on our industry. We are fully prepared for any threats we are likely to face, as we have strategies on ground to battle such threats.

7. MARKET ANALYSIS

• Market Trends

The trend in the software industry is that most software firms or companies are located in clusters in identifiable locations.

This is due to certain facts such as these companies wanting to be close for competitive and industry purposes and also most software companies depend on one another to be able to carry out certain functions or complete certain specific tasks for clients.

This does not however mean that there aren’t software companies in other locations or that software companies in these other locations can’t still get jobs done. To however remain relevant, software companies must always remain innovative and unique in their offerings and services. Another trend with software companies is in its publicity and promotion activities.

To be able to attract the much needed awareness and also attract clients that would pay money for the firms’ products, software companies have engaged in strong promotional activities either by hiring brand consultants or getting an in-house team or deploying both methods to draft the strategies that would enable it be recognized in the industry. Intense promotional activities will also help in getting a huge share of the market.

Lastly, software cannot work without any device and so goes hand in hand with new or existing technology; which is why most software companies try to partner with technology firms so as to create new software or upgrade existing software for these firms.

This goes to show that software industry is dependent on the technology and manufacturing industry in order to survive or thrive.

8. Our Target Market

Almost everyone makes use of software and have either bought directly from the developers or indirectly via owning a device. This means that the target market for any software development company is wide. We however have mapped out a strategy that would allow us gain a vital share of the target market.

One of our first strategies is in conducting a thorough market research that would enable us understand the market we are to go into and know what they expect from us and what our obligations are towards them. The result of the market research of the market research showed that we were in business to develop software or offer other kinds of related services to the following people;

• Corporate organizations
• entertainment industry
• Educational institutions
• Accounting firms
• Financial institutions
• Small businesses
• Agricultural sector
• Military and defense sector
• Other software companies

Our competitive advantage

Just like any other business that is established to make profit, we hope to be able to compete favorably against our competitors in the same industry.

Our vision is to be the preferred software development company for our clients all over the United States of America and to achieve this, we intend to come up with competitive strategies that would enable us attain our goals and objectives.

We intend to ensure that the software developed for general purposes will come in different categories that will be convenient for all our users.

We have assembled a high team of software developers as well as management team who are not only highly experienced and who understand how to handle a start-up and make it become a force to be reckoned with nationally. Our staffs are also attuned to our core values and principles and understand the importance of projecting the image of the company positively to our customers – potential and existing.

Another competitive advantage that we have to our favor is our excellent customer service culture which is already resounding across the industry as one of the best of start-ups of our size. Our customer executives are highly trained and are always updated on industry trends so as to be able to give our customers the correct information at all times.

Finally, because we know how important it is for our employees to be happy always, we are committed to treating them right. Our management team has a stake in the company’s profits and our lower cadre employees have incentives built into their welfare packages. All this is to enable our employees remain happy and productive.

9. SALES AND MARKETING STRATEGY

• Sources of Income

Doodle Tech Inc. just like any other business has been established with the aim of generating revenue and making profit in the technology and software industry, and we are going to ensure that we make software that will help us accomplish this purpose, as well as engage in other services as well.

Doodle Tech Inc. therefore intends to generate income by engaging in the following services;

10. Sales Forecast

The software industry has come to stay and can only keep evolving into something bigger and stronger, as there will always be gadgets, devices and templates that would require the use of a new software or an upgrade.

Our strategic location in San Francisco – California has afforded us the opportunity to be close to many technological giants and businesses and this will see us generating and meeting our set revenue in no time, thereby growing our business tremendously.

After conducting a thorough analysis on the software industry and analyzing our chances in the industry, we were able to come up with a sales forecast that has shown strong positives in how we are likely to far in the market.

The sales projections were based on several assumptions and facts garnered across similar start-ups in the industry and across the United States of America as a whole. Therefore, the sales projection that Doodle Tech Inc. conducted to analyze its chances are as follows;

• First Fiscal Year-: $400,000
• Second Fiscal Year-: $800,000
• Third Fiscal Year-: $1,600,000

N.B : The above sales projections were done based on major assumptions that some factors that were used in making these assumptions would remain the same. However, should there be any change either positively or negatively, it would likely increase or decrease the above figures.

• Marketing Strategy and Sales Strategy

Marketing is a very important aspect of any business because it is not only a way to generate revenue for a business; it is also a way of garnering publicity to attract new customers whilst retaining the old ones. Every business no matter its level or life cycle of needs marketing in order to thrive, which is why any entrepreneur or business person starting or running a business usually sets money aside for marketing.

Asides creating funds for marketing, it is also important to ensure that effective strategies are created. Creating effective marketing strategies are essential as they would ensure that the funds are channeled the right way. In marketing Doodle Tech Inc., we would ensure that we leverage on all conventional and unconventional means of making sure that our brand and products are marketed to all our existing and potential customers.

We would conduct a market survey that would allow us understand the right strategies to draft and how effective they would be depending on the target market. To conduct a thorough market survey, we would make use of accurate available data so that we would be effectively able to compete with all our competitors all over the United States of America.

We also intend to hire a reputable marketing consultant who should be able to draft the right marketing strategies that would allow Doodle Tech Inc. penetrate the market. Also, our marketing team would be empowered in ensuring that the marketing strategies created are in tune with our corporate goals and objectives as a business.

Therefore, the following are the marketing strategies we hope to adopt at Doodle Tech Inc. in order to sell our products and services;

• Ensure that we introduce our software development business by sending out introductory letters to technology and manufacturing companies as well as other big software companies and other stakeholders in the industry.
• Network with other software companies by attending software developer conferences
• Advertise our software development business in local newspapers, technology related magazines, and in local radio and television stations
• Ensure that Doodle Tech Inc. is listed in online and offline directories
• Engage in direct marketing and sales
• Ensure that we are actively involved in forums and blogs in marketing our company

11. Publicity and Advertising Strategy

Carrying out the right publicity and advertisement for our software development business is very essential as it is not enough to just penetrate the market and also create awareness, but to ensure that the strategy will result in Doodle Tech Inc.’s products becoming generic terms for similar products in the same category.

Due to this vision, we have hired a reputable publicity consultant who has the industry knowledge and expertise and who will help in ensuring that our company gets to the top by drafting out strategies that are in line with the core policies of the company and will boost our brand and allow us compete favorably against our competitors.

Below are some of the platforms we intend to leverage on in order to promote Doodle Tech Inc.;

• Develop a free version of our software and give users an opportunity to upgrade at a cost
• Leverage on relevant social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Google Hangout and other developers’ forum in order to create awareness about Doodle Tech Inc.
• Engage in pay per click advertisement on popular software development forums
• Create contests on social media and via our website to generate more publicity
• Distribute our handbills and fliers in strategic locations
• Install our flexi banners in conspicuous and strategic locations all over San Francisco

12. Our Pricing Strategy

Determining the right price for our various software’s will depend on a number of factors, such as how much the market will willingly pay for such software, how much that category of software is being charged for by competitors, and how unique the software is.

Other factors that will determine the prices are if we intend to charge a licensing fee for our software, or enable a pay per transaction or a subscription that is time-limited for the end user.

In view of all the above based factors, we will offer our software at prices that are at the prevailing market conditions. However, because this is a competitive market, we will however lower our prices in the first two months of business so as to attract more customers to our business, and also increase the awareness for our products.

• Payment Options

Doodle Tech Inc. realizes that due to improving technology, customers now have different payment options that they can use in paying for services; and so we have different payment policy that is intended to suit all our different customers and their diverse needs.

The payment options we have for our clients are;

• Cash payment
• Payment via check
• Payment via online payment portal
• Payment via Point of Sale (POS) Machine
• Payment via credit card

The above payment platforms were carefully chosen for us by our bank and we have been told that our customers will not experience any hitches or inconvenience whilst using the above platforms.

13. Startup Expenditure (Budget)

Even though some of the equipment that can be used to start and run a software development company can be gotten for fairly used, thereby lowering the costs of start-up, it will however be vital to stress that setting up a standard software development company would require the equipment used to be standard so as to be able to withstand the heavy workload that it might have to carry out.

Also, the bulk of capital in these circumstances usually goes to paying workers and utility bills that the business will incur during the course of its operation. Therefore, the key areas where we intend to spend our start-up capital on are;

• Total fee for registering Doodle Tech Inc. in the United States of America – $750
• Licenses, permits as well as accounting software – $1250
• Insurance policy (general liability, workers’ compensation) – $2,000
• Leasing and renovating of a facility for use for at least a year – $20,000
• Cost of hiring a business consultant – $2,000
• Operational cost for the first 3 months (salaries of employees and payment of bills) – $200,000
• Other start-up expenses which includes (windows hosting, Linux hosting, bug tracking, graphics design, software subscription and cable broadband) – $15,000
• Marketing promotion expenses (general marketing expenses and promotion activities for grand opening ceremony) – $5,000
• Administrative expenses (stationeries, phone, computers, printers, furniture business cards, office supplies, and stamps)  – $10,000
• Cost of purchasing an official vehicle – $30,000
• Cost of launching a website – $1,000
• Cost of throwing a grand opening party – $5,000
• Miscellaneous – $8,000

From the following report, we would need an estimate of $300,000 to be able to start and successfully set up a software development company in San Francisco – California. IT should be noted the bulk of the capital (90%) went towards payment of salaries for employees for a period of three months.

Generating Funding / Startup Capital for Doodle Tech Inc. Business

Doodle Tech Inc. is a business owned by two geeks and businessmen, Jack Taylor and Christopher Warden. We realize our financing is important for our company if we intend to successfully start, run and become a force to be reckoned with in the industry.

We are however going to be careful in where we source for money so as not to lose a part of our company or get locked in repaying a loan that might hinder the progress of our company. This is why we have decided to limit our sources for income to just 5 sources; The following are sources where we intend to get our start-up capital from;

• Generate part capital from our personal savings and sale of stocks
• Get soft loans from family members and friends
• Apply for research grants at the state and federal level
• Source for part capital from online crowdfunding sites like kickstarter
• Apply for loan from commercial bank

N.B: from our personal savings and the sale of some of our stocks, we were able to generate the sum of $30,000. The soft loans from our family members and friends amounted to $20,000. We applied for a grant of $50,000 at the state level and have been considered.

We were able to generate the sum of $70,000 from sourcing for funds from kick starter, and we are at the final stages of getting our loan of $130,000 approved for us by the bank. All the necessary documents have been signed and we have been assured by our banker that the amount will soon be credited to our account within two weeks.

14. Sustainability and Expansion Strategy

Doodle Tech Inc. is established with the aim of making profit and competing amongst others here in the software industry. We are however concerned about the future of our company and so we intend to ensure that we deploy sustainability and expansion strategies so as to keep our business running for a long time.

One of the sustainability strategies which we intend to deploy is in having the right business structure on ground. This we intend to do by hiring competent and professional employees to handle the various tasks that we will assign to them.

We will employ those who understand what businesses such as ours will need to thrive in the industry and the know-how to ensure that we attain our desired goals and objectives. Our employees will not only be well paid and have attractive incentives, they will also continually be trained so that their skills would be enhanced thereby increasing productivity for the company.

We would draft effective publicity and promotional strategies that would ensure that the awareness for our brand and its products are increased to potential and even existing customers. Our promotional efforts will be geared into ensuring that our brand is positively communicated to even our rivals in the industry.

Most of our publicity strategies would be geared towards the millennials by throwing up contests especially on social media as these have the potential to ensure that awareness about our brand is effectively spread even to the baby boomers.

Finally, we take our customers very seriously and to this effect we intend to ensure that we have effective customer service programs which will see our loyal customers getting incentives.

We also would ensure that we attend to all customer enquiries whilst also making sure that all their complaints are resolved speedily depending on the problem. We know that if we carry out these strategies effectively, we would not only push forth our brand but also sustain our business whilst also expanding it at our own pace.

Check List / Milestone

• Business Name Availability Check: Completed
• Business Registration: Completed
• Opening of Corporate Bank Accounts: Completed
• Securing Point of Sales (POS) Machines: Completed
• Opening Mobile Money Accounts: Completed
• Opening Online Payment Platforms: Completed
• Application and Obtaining Tax Payer’s ID: In Progress
• Application for business license and permit: Completed
• Purchase of Insurance for the Business: Completed
• Conducting feasibility studies: Completed
• Generating capital from family members: Completed
• Applications for Loan from the bank: In Progress
• Writing of Business Plan: Completed
• Drafting of Employee’s Handbook: Completed
• Drafting of Contract Documents and other relevant Legal Documents: In Progress
• Design of The Company’s Logo: Completed
• Graphic Designs and Printing of Packaging Marketing / Promotional Materials: In Progress
• Recruitment of employees: In Progress
• Creating Official Website for the Company: In Progress
• Creating Awareness for the business both online and around the community: In Progress
• Health and Safety and Fire Safety Arrangement (License): Secured
• Opening party / launching party planning: In Progress
• Establishing business relationship with vendors – wholesale suppliers / merchants: In Progress
• Purchase of trucks: Completed

Business Plan for Software Company

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Software Company Business Plan

Over the past 20+ years, we have helped over 500 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans to start and grow their software companies.

If you’re unfamiliar with creating a software company business plan, you may think creating one will be a time-consuming and frustrating process. For most entrepreneurs it is, but for you, it won’t be since we’re here to help. We have the experience, resources, and knowledge to help you create a great business plan.

In this article, you will learn some background information on why business planning is important. Then, you will learn how to write a software company business plan step-by-step so you can create your plan today.

Download our Ultimate Business Plan Template here >

What is a Software Company Business Plan?

A business plan provides a snapshot of your software company as it stands today, and lays out your growth plan for the next five years. It explains your business goals and your strategies for reaching them. It also includes market research to support your plans.

Why You Need a Business Plan for a Software Company

If you’re looking to start a software company or grow your existing software company, you need a business plan. A business plan will help you raise funding, if needed, and plan out the growth of your software company to improve your chances of success. Your software company business plan is a living document that should be updated annually as your company grows and changes.

Sources of Funding for Software Companies

With regards to funding, the main sources of funding for a software company are personal savings, credit cards, bank loans, and angel investors. When it comes to bank loans, banks will want to review your business plan and gain confidence that you will be able to repay your loan and interest. To acquire this confidence, the loan officer will not only want to ensure that your financials are reasonable, but they will also want to see a professional plan. Such a plan will give them the confidence that you can successfully and professionally operate a business. Personal savings and bank loans are the most common funding paths for software companies.

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How to write a business plan for a software company.

If you want to start a software company or expand your current one, you need a business plan. The guide below details the necessary information for how to write each essential component of your software company business plan.

Executive Summary

Your executive summary provides an introduction to your business plan, but it is normally the last section you write because it provides a summary of each key section of your plan.

The goal of your executive summary is to quickly engage the reader. Explain to them the kind of software company you are running and the status. For example, are you a startup, do you have a software company that you would like to grow, or are you operating a chain of software companies?

Next, provide an overview of each of the subsequent sections of your plan.

• Give a brief overview of the software company industry.
• Discuss the type of software company you are operating.
• Detail your direct competitors. Give an overview of your target customers.
• Provide a snapshot of your marketing strategy. Identify the key members of your team.
• Offer an overview of your financial plan.

Company Overview

In your company overview, you will detail the type of software company you are operating.

For example, you might specialize in one of the following types of software companies:

• Open source: An open source software company is one that produces a code base that is free for any entity that desires to use it. The value of this structure is found in the auxiliary services and customizations that are provided to clients. Examples of highly-profitable open source software companies include Linux and Red Hat.
• Client-specific: As cloud computing continues to grow in popularity, more companies look to specific software programs to drive their businesses further into high-growth positions. Examples of client-specific software companies include Oracle and SAP.
• Programming services: Software companies that provide programming are essential to the tech industry. Examples include Microsoft and ADP, well-known giant software companies.
• System services: Software companies have become highly successful, as they’ve perfected the art of creating systems for personal computers and the growing field of tablets and other personal devices. Examples of software companies that focus on systems include Intuit and Adobe.

In addition to explaining the type of software company business you will operate, the company overview needs to provide background on the business.

Include answers to questions such as:

• When and why did you start the business?
• What milestones have you achieved to date? Milestones could include the number of software programs created, the number of specialized SaaS services created, or reaching X number of clients served, etc.
• Your legal business Are you incorporated as an S-Corp? An LLC? A sole proprietorship? Explain your legal structure here.

Industry Analysis

In your industry or market analysis, you need to provide an overview of the software company industry. While this may seem unnecessary, it serves multiple purposes.

First, researching the software company industry educates you. It helps you understand the market in which you are operating.

Secondly, market research can improve your marketing strategy, particularly if your analysis identifies market trends.

The third reason is to prove to readers that you are an expert in your industry. By conducting the research and presenting it in your plan, you achieve just that.

The following questions should be answered in the industry analysis section of your software company business plan:

• How big is the software company industry (in dollars)?
• Is the market declining or increasing?
• Who are the key competitors in the market?
• Who are the key suppliers in the market?
• What trends are affecting the industry?
• What is the industry’s growth forecast over the next 5 – 10 years?
• What is the relevant market size? That is, how big is the potential target market for your software company business? You can extrapolate such a figure by assessing the size of the market in the entire country and then applying that figure to your local population.

Customer Analysis

The customer analysis section of your software company business plan must detail the customers you serve and/or expect to serve.

The following are examples of customer segments: start-up tech companies, companies in need of CRM software, research and development companies, and cloud-computing corporations.

As you can imagine, the customer segment(s) you choose will have a great impact on the type of software company business you operate. Clearly, start-up tech companies would respond to different marketing promotions than major cloud-computing corporations, for example.

Try to break out your target customers in terms of their demographic and industry profiles. With regard to demographics, include a discussion of the locations, type of services or programming needed and revenue potential of the client companies you seek to serve.

Psychographic profiles explain the wants and needs of your target clients within the companies you will target. The more you can recognize and define these needs, the better you will do in attracting and retaining your customers.

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Competitive Analysis

Your competitive analysis should identify the indirect and direct competitors your business faces and then focus on the latter.

Direct competitors are other software company businesses.

Indirect competitors are other options that customers have to purchase from that aren’t directly competing with your product or service. This includes generic software outlets, private individual providers, and computer servicing companies.You need to mention direct competition, as well.

For each direct competitor, provide an overview of their business and document their strengths and weaknesses. Unless you once worked at your competitors’ businesses, it will be impossible to know everything about them. But you should be able to find out key things about them such as

• What types of customers do they serve?
• What type of software company are they?
• What is their pricing (premium, low, etc.)?
• What are they good at?
• What are their weaknesses?

With regard to the last two questions, think about your answers from the customers’ perspective. And don’t be afraid to ask your competitors’ customers what they like most and least about them.

The final part of your competitive analysis section is to document your areas of competitive advantage. For example:

• Will you provide options for the customized software?
• Will you offer products or services that your competition doesn’t?
• Will you provide better customer service?
• Will you offer bundled pricing?

Think about ways you will outperform your competition and document them in this section of your plan.

Marketing Plan

Traditionally, a marketing plan includes the four P’s: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. For a software company business plan, your marketing strategy should include the following:

Product : In the product section, you should reiterate the type of software company that you documented in your company overview. Then, detail the specific products or services you will be offering. For example, will you provide open source programming, SaaS products, or software to support Microsoft systems?

Price : Document the prices you will offer and how they compare to your competitors. Essentially in the product and price sub-sections of your plan, you are presenting the products and/or services you offer and their prices.

Place : Place refers to the site of your software company. Document where your company is situated and mention how the site will impact your success. For example, is your software company located in a professional technology park, a standalone building or is it purely online? , Discuss how your site might be the ideal location for your customers.

Promotions : The final part of your software company marketing plan is where you will document how you will drive potential customers to your location(s). The following are some promotional methods you might consider:

• Quarterly press releases to industry-wide interest groups
• Engage in social media mining and marketing
• Offer informative blogs; become a speaker in seminars
• Create a strong presence at tech trade shows and conferences
• Give expert opinions on tech social media platforms
• Improve the SEO (search engine optimization) on your website for targeted keywords

Operations Plan

While the earlier sections of your business plan explained your goals, your operations plan describes how you will meet them. Your operations plan should have two distinct sections as follows.

Everyday short-term processes include all of the tasks involved in running your software company, including meeting with clients, planning new software development, training personnel, and running administrative services.

Long-term goals are the milestones you hope to achieve. These could include the dates when you expect to sign your Xth contract, or when you hope to reach $X in revenue. It could also be when you expect to expand your software company business to a new city.

Management Team

To demonstrate your software company’s potential to succeed, a strong management team is essential. Highlight your key players’ backgrounds, emphasizing those skills and experiences that prove their ability to grow a company.

Ideally, you and/or your team members have direct experience in managing a software company. If so, highlight this experience and expertise. But also highlight any experience that you think will help your business succeed.

If your team is lacking, consider assembling an advisory board. An advisory board would include 2 to 8 individuals who would act as mentors to your business. They would help answer questions and provide strategic guidance. If needed, look for advisory board members with experience in managing a software company or successfully running a small technology development firm.

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Financial plan.

Your financial plan should include your 5-year financial statement broken out both monthly or quarterly for the first year and then annually. Your financial statements include your income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statements.

Income Statement

An income statement is more commonly called a Profit and Loss statement or P&L. It shows your revenue and then subtracts your costs to show whether you turned a profit or not.

In developing your income statement, you need to devise assumptions. For example, will you introduce a new software program on a yearly basis, or will you customize software for return clients? And will sales grow by 2% or 10% per year? As you can imagine, your choice of assumptions will greatly impact the financial forecasts for your business. As much as possible, conduct research to try to root your assumptions in reality.

Balance Sheets

Balance sheets show your assets and liabilities. While balance sheets can include much information, try to simplify them to the key items you need to know about. For instance, if you spend $50,000 on building out your software company, this will not give you immediate profits. Rather it is an asset that will hopefully help you generate profits for years to come. Likewise, if a lender writes you a check for $50,000, you don’t need to pay it back immediately. Rather, that is a liability you will pay back over time.

Cash Flow Statement

Your cash flow statement will help determine how much money you need to start or grow your business, and ensure you never run out of money. What most entrepreneurs and business owners don’t realize is that you can turn a profit, but run out of money and go bankrupt.

When creating your Income Statement and Balance Sheets be sure to include several of the key costs needed in starting or growing a software company:

• Cost of computer and software equipment
• Payroll or salaries paid to staff
• Business insurance
• Other start-up expenses (if you’re a new business) like legal expenses, permits, furnishings and office supplies

Attach your full financial projections in the appendix of your plan along with any supporting documents that make your plan more compelling. For example, you might include the patents you own on software programs or a list of clients on monthly retainers.

Writing a business plan for your software company is a worthwhile endeavor. If you follow the template above, by the time you are done, you will truly be an expert. You will understand the software company industry, your competition, and your customers. You will develop a marketing strategy and will understand what it takes to launch and grow a successful software company.

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Other Helpful Business Plan Articles & Templates

Software Development Business Plan Template & Guidebook

A software developer wanting to launch their own company? Our sample and instruction manual for writing a software development business plan is the ideal response. With the help of our in-depth manual, you'll learn all you need to know about starting and operating a profitable software development company, from market research and financial planning to hiring and supervising your staff. And you can quickly and simply build a professional business plan that will amaze investors and put you on the road to success with our simple-to-use template. Why then wait? Launch your software development company right away to convert your love of coding into a successful business!

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• How to Start a Profitable Software Development Business [11 Steps]
• 10+ Best & Profitable Software Development Business Ideas [2023]
• 25 Catchy Software Development Business Names:
• List of the Best Marketing Ideas For Your Software Development Business:

How to Write a Software Development Business Plan in 7 Steps:

1. describe the purpose of your software development business..

The first step to writing your business plan is to describe the purpose of your software development business. This includes describing why you are starting this type of business, and what problems it will solve for customers. This is a quick way to get your mind thinking about the customers’ problems. It also helps you identify what makes your business different from others in its industry.

It also helps to include a vision statement so that readers can understand what type of company you want to build.

Here is an example of a purpose mission statement for a software development business:

At our software development company, our mission is to provide innovative and effective software solutions to our clients in a wide range of industries. We are committed to using the latest technology and techniques to develop custom software applications that meet our clients' unique business needs and goals. We strive to be a trusted partner for our clients, offering them reliable and cost-effective solutions that help them improve their productivity, efficiency, and competitiveness. We are dedicated to delivering exceptional customer service and support, and to providing our clients with the tools they need to succeed in today's dynamic and fast-paced business environment.

2. Products & Services Offered by Your Software Development Business.

The next step is to outline your products and services for your software development business. 

When you think about the products and services that you offer, it's helpful to ask yourself the following questions:

• What is my business?
• What are the products and/or services that I offer?
• Why am I offering these particular products and/or services?
• How do I differentiate myself from competitors with similar offerings?
• How will I market my products and services?

You may want to do a comparison of your business plan against those of other competitors in the area, or even with online reviews. This way, you can find out what people like about them and what they don’t like, so that you can either improve upon their offerings or avoid doing so altogether.

3. Build a Creative Marketing Stratgey.

If you don't have a marketing plan for your software development business, it's time to write one. Your marketing plan should be part of your business plan and be a roadmap to your goals. 

A good marketing plan for your software development business includes the following elements:

Target market

• Who is your target market?
• What do these customers have in common?
• How many of them are there?
• How can you best reach them with your message or product?

Customer base 

• Who are your current customers? 
• Where did they come from (i.e., referrals)?
• How can their experience with your software development business help make them repeat customers, consumers, visitors, subscribers, or advocates for other people in their network or industry who might also benefit from using this service, product, or brand?

Product or service description

• How does it work, what features does it have, and what are its benefits?
• Can anyone use this product or service regardless of age or gender?
• Can anyone visually see themselves using this product or service?
• How will they feel when they do so? If so, how long will the feeling last after purchasing (or trying) the product/service for the first time?

Competitive analysis

• Which companies are competing with yours today (and why)? 
• Which ones may enter into competition with yours tomorrow if they find out about it now through word-of-mouth advertising; social media networks; friends' recommendations; etc.)
• What specific advantages does each competitor offer over yours currently?

Marketing channels

• Which marketing channel do you intend to leverage to attract new customers?
• What is your estimated marketing budget needed?
• What is the projected cost to acquire a new customer?
• How many of your customers do you instead will return?

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4. Write Your Operational Plan.

Next, you'll need to build your operational plan. This section describes the type of business you'll be running, and includes the steps involved in your operations. 

In it, you should list:

• The equipment and facilities needed
• Who will be involved in the business (employees, contractors)
• Financial requirements for each step
• Milestones & KPIs
• Location of your business
• Zoning & permits required for the business

What equipment, supplies, or permits are needed to run a software development business?

To run a software development business, you'll need a range of equipment and supplies, as well as a few permits. Here's a quick rundown of what you'll need:

• A physical location for your business, such as a standalone office or a space within an existing building
• Computers and other equipment for developing and testing software
• Software development tools and frameworks, such as programming languages and integrated development environments (IDEs)
• A supply of office supplies and other equipment, such as printers and scanners
• Depending on your location and the services you offer, you may need to obtain a business license and other permits, such as a permit to operate a software development business.

Overall, running a software development business requires a mix of equipment, supplies, and permits to ensure that you can provide high-quality software solutions to your clients.

5. Management & Organization of Your Software Development Business.

The second part of your software development business plan is to develop a management and organization section.

This section will cover all of the following:

• How many employees you need in order to run your software development business. This should include the roles they will play (for example, one person may be responsible for managing administrative duties while another might be in charge of customer service).
• The structure of your management team. The higher-ups like yourself should be able to delegate tasks through lower-level managers who are directly responsible for their given department (inventory and sales, etc.).
• How you’re going to make sure that everyone on board is doing their job well. You’ll want check-ins with employees regularly so they have time to ask questions or voice concerns if needed; this also gives you time to offer support where necessary while staying informed on how things are going within individual departments too!

6. Software Development Business Startup Expenses & Captial Needed.

This section should be broken down by month and year. If you are still in the planning stage of your business, it may be helpful to estimate how much money will be needed each month until you reach profitability.

Typically, expenses for your business can be broken into a few basic categories:

Startup Costs

Startup costs are typically the first expenses you will incur when beginning an enterprise. These include legal fees, accounting expenses, and other costs associated with getting your business off the ground. The amount of money needed to start a software development business varies based on many different variables, but below are a few different types of startup costs for a software development business.

Running & Operating Costs

Running costs refer to ongoing expenses related directly with operating your business over time like electricity bills or salaries paid out each month. These types of expenses will vary greatly depending on multiple variables such as location, team size, utility costs, etc.

Marketing & Sales Expenses

You should include any costs associated with marketing and sales, such as advertising and promotions, website design or maintenance. Also, consider any additional expenses that may be incurred if you decide to launch a new product or service line. For example, if your software development business has an existing website that needs an upgrade in order to sell more products or services, then this should be listed here.

7. Financial Plan & Projections

A financial plan is an important part of any business plan, as it outlines how the business will generate revenue and profit, and how it will use that profit to grow and sustain itself. To devise a financial plan for your software development business, you will need to consider a number of factors, including your start-up costs, operating costs, projected revenue, and expenses. 

Here are some steps you can follow to devise a financial plan for your software development business plan:

• Determine your start-up costs: This will include the cost of purchasing or leasing the space where you will operate your business, as well as the cost of buying or leasing any equipment or supplies that you need to start the business.
• Estimate your operating costs: Operating costs will include utilities, such as electricity, gas, and water, as well as labor costs for employees, if any, and the cost of purchasing any materials or supplies that you will need to run your business.
• Project your revenue: To project your revenue, you will need to consider the number of customers you expect to have and the average amount they will spend on each visit. You can use this information to estimate how much money you will make from selling your products or services.
• Estimate your expenses: In addition to your operating costs, you will need to consider other expenses, such as insurance, marketing, and maintenance. You will also need to set aside money for taxes and other fees.
• Create a budget: Once you have estimated your start-up costs, operating costs, revenue, and expenses, you can use this information to create a budget for your business. This will help you to see how much money you will need to start the business, and how much profit you can expect to make.
• Develop a plan for using your profit: Finally, you will need to decide how you will use your profit to grow and sustain your business. This might include investing in new equipment, expanding the business, or saving for a rainy day.

Frequently Asked Questions About Software Development Business Plans:

Why do you need a business plan for a software development business.

A business plan is a document that outlines the goals and objectives of a business, as well as the strategies and tactics that will be used to achieve those goals. It is important to have a business plan for your software development business because it helps to focus the efforts of the company, communicate the business's goals and objectives to potential investors, and provide a roadmap for the business to follow. Additionally, a business plan can be used to help secure funding from investors or lenders, who will want to see that the business has a solid plan in place before they provide funding.

How to write a business plan for your software development business?)

To build a business plan for your software development business, start by researching your industry, competitors, and target market. Use this information to define your business's goals and objectives, as well as the strategies and tactics that you will use to achieve those goals. Next, create a financial plan that outlines your projected income, expenses, and profit. This should include a projected income statement, cash flow statement, and balance sheet. Once you have all of this information, you can use it to create a comprehensive business plan that outlines the goals and objectives of your business, as well as the strategies and tactics that you will use to achieve those goals. A well-written software development business plan contains the following sections: Purpose, Products & Services, Marketing Plan (including Marketing Strategy), Operations/Management Plan (including Operations/Management Strategy), Financial Plan (including Financial Forecasts), and Appendixes.

Can you write a software development business plan yourself?

Yes, you can write a software development business plan yourself. Writing a business plan is a valuable exercise that can help you clarify your business idea, identify potential challenges and opportunities, and develop a roadmap for success. While there are many resources and templates available to help you write a business plan, the process of creating one is ultimately up to you.

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Software Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Software Company Business Plan

You’ve come to the right place to create your Software Company business plan.

We have helped over 1,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create software business plans and many have used them to start or grow their software companies.

Below is a software business plan template to help you create each section of your own Software Company business plan.

Executive Summary

Business overview.

SimpleBooks Inc. is a new accounting software company located in Seattle, Washington. We produce an accounting product that helps small and medium-sized businesses with all of their accounting tasks. Some of these features we provide in our software include bookkeeping, tracking cash flow, reconciling bank accounts, and creating/managing financial reports.

SimpleBooks Inc. is founded by Edward Jameson, who has been a developer for 20 years. He created this software based on the complaints that his wife had of the accounting software she was using. He initially created the software to help his wife’s business but decided to expand the product and sell it to other local small and medium-sized businesses with similar accounting needs.

Product Offering

SimpleBooks Inc. produces accounting software that helps small and medium-sized businesses with all their accounting needs. We offer an extensive list of features, including the following:

• Bookkeeping
• Reconciling bank accounts
• Cash flow tracking and management
• Accounts receivable
• Income and expenses tracking
• Invoice and payment processing
• Mileage tracking
• Receipt capture
• Bill management
• Tax deductions
• Inventory management
• Employee expenses tracking
• Business analytics
• Project profitability
• Time tracking
• Financial report generation

Customer Focus

SimpleBooks Inc. will primarily target businesses in the Seattle, Washington area. The software is designed for smaller businesses, so most of our clientele will include businesses with less than 500 employees.

Management Team

SimpleBooks Inc. is founded by Edward Jameson, who has been a developer for 20 years. He has substantial experience creating software for large companies and has been very successful in his career. He initially built the company’s accounting software to help his wife’s business, but decided to expand the product and sell it to other small businesses in the area.

Success Factors

SimpleBooks Inc. will be able to achieve success by offering the following competitive advantages:

• Edward Jameson has been extremely successful working in the software industry and will be able to use experience to create the best products for our target market.
• Edward knows many of the local leaders, business managers, and other influencers within Seattle, Washington and will use those connections to establish an initial clientbase.
• SimpleBooks Inc.’s products are designed with small businesses in mind and will be curated to help the particular accounting needs of this target demographic.

Financial Highlights

SimpleBooks Inc. is seeking a total funding of $500,000 of debt capital to launch. The breakout of the funding is below:

• Office design/build: $100,000
• Software development: $150,000
• Three months of overhead expenses (payroll, rent, utilities): $150,000
• Marketing costs: $50,000
• Working capital: $50,000

The following graph below outlines the pro forma financial projections for SimpleBooks Inc.:

Company Overview

Who is simplebooks inc..

SimpleBooks Inc. is a new accounting software company located in Seattle, Washington. We produce an accounting software product that helps small and medium-sized businesses with all of their accounting tasks. We offer three tiers of features. Our basic tier only offers basic accounting functions while our advanced tier offers an extensive list of features for larger and more complex businesses. Some of these features include bookkeeping, tracking cash flow, reconciling bank accounts, and creating/managing financial reports.

  SimpleBooks Inc. is founded by Edward Jameson, who has been a developer for 20 years. His wife is an accountant who was very unhappy with other accounting software products. Other accounting software can be overwhelming to use, unintuitive, and are geared toward large organizations and enterprises. Edward knew of her complaints and developed an accounting software geared towards her small business. Edward’s wife has been successfully using the software for nearly a year, so Edward is confident that this product can help other small and medium-sized businesses with similar accounting needs.

SimpleBooks Inc.’s History

After developing the software for his wife’s company, Edward Jameson did a thorough market analysis to see how well his software would do if he sold it to other local small businesses. Once his market analysis was complete, Edward incorporated SimpleBooks Inc. as an S corporation.

Since incorporation, the company has achieved the following milestones:

• Located a potential office space and signed a Letter of Intent to lease it
• Developed the company’s name, logo, and website
• Determined equipment and necessary supplies
• Began recruiting key employees

SimpleBooks Inc.’s Services

SimpleBooks Inc. produces accounting software that helps small and medium-sized businesses with all their accounting needs. Clients interested in our software can purchase one of three plans: basic, intermediate, or advanced. Our most basic plan will offer just the essential bookkeeping and accounting functions that most businesses need and only allow up to three users per account. Our intermediate plan will offer more features and allow up to seven users per account. Our most advanced plan will offer an extensive suite of accounting features and allow up to twenty users per account. All plans are charged on a monthly basis, with our basic plan being the cheapest option and advanced option being the most expensive.

Some of the functions and features included in our software products include:

Industry Analysis

According to market research, the global software industry is expected to grow substantially over the next five years. Nearly every business uses some form of software to automate its processes and increase efficiency and accuracy. Therefore, demand remains high and the industry continues to grow and expand.

Business software includes project management software, communication software, customer relationship management software, and accounting software. Accounting software is particularly popular as it significantly improves accuracy and efficiency when handling all things related to accounting. Good accounting software can help a business keep detailed tracking of all its finances, and prevent a business from bleeding money or losing track of funds.

Business software companies can succeed by providing competitive features, multiple plans and products, and keeping their products affordable. They will also succeed if they can make products that work for both small businesses and large enterprises. A company that can provide this type of software will remain competitive in the global market and see rising demand from its clientele.

Customer Analysis

Demographic profile of target market.

SimpleBooks Inc. will primarily target businesses in the Seattle, Washington area. The software is designed for smaller businesses, so most of our clientele will include solopreneurs, small businesses, and medium businesses with less than 500 employees. We hope to eventually branch out and serve clients located beyond the Seattle area.

Customer Segmentation

SimpleBooks Inc. will primarily target the following customer profiles:

• Solopreneurs
• Small businesses
• Medium-sized businesses

Competitive Analysis

Direct and indirect competitors.

SimpleBooks Inc. will face competition from other companies with similar business profiles. A description of each competitor company is below.

QuickBooks is one of the most popular accounting programs out there. It provides businesses with everything a business needs for its accounting department, including tracking income and expenses, managing cash flow, and helping with taxes. Clients can choose one of four monthly plans depending on the features they need and how large their accounting department is. Plans are charged on a monthly basis and include quick and helpful support and app integration.

Xero is a powerful accounting software for companies of all sizes. Clients who have Xero can pay bills, manage payroll, claim expenses, send invoices, and track inventory. They offer three tiers to choose from, including a very affordable basic plan and other plans that offer extensive features. They also provide specialized features for small businesses and for businesses in particular industries.

Freshbooks is a popular accounting software with businesses of all sizes in mind. They offer numerous features that vary depending on if you are a freelancer, a business with contractors, or a business with employees. Some of these features include managing expenses and receipts, tracking mileage and time, invoicing, and generating financial reports. They offer three tiers of plans but also create custom plans for businesses with complex and unique accounting needs.

Competitive Advantage

SimpleBooks Inc. will be able to offer the following advantages over the competition:

• Management: Edward Jameson has been extremely successful working in the software industry and will be able to use his previous experience to create the best products and experience for his clients. His unique qualifications will serve customers in a much more sophisticated manner than SimpleBooks Inc.’s competitors.
• Relationships: Edward knows many of the local leaders, business managers, and other influencers within Seattle, Washington. With his 10 years of experience and good relationships with business leaders in the area, he will be able to develop an initial client base.
• Small business focus: While our competitors do offer features for small and medium sized businesses, their products are designed with large enterprises in mind. This can make their products feel overwhelming and unintuitive. SimpleBooks Inc.’s products are designed specifically for small and medium businesses with fewer than 500 employees.

Marketing Plan

Brand & value proposition.

SimpleBooks Inc. will offer a unique value proposition to its clientele:

• Service built on long-term relationships
• A focus on helping small businesses succeed
• Affordable pricing
• Excellent customer service

Promotions Strategy

The marketing strategy for SimpleBooks Inc. is as follows:

Referral Marketing

SimpleBooks Inc. will invest heavily in a social media advertising campaign. Edward will create the company’s social media accounts and invest in ads on all social media platforms. He will use targeted marketing to appeal to the target demographics.

Social Media SimpleBooks Inc. will invest heavily in a social media advertising campaign. Edward will create the company’s social media accounts and invest in ads on all social media platforms. He will use targeted marketing to appeal to the target demographics.

Website/SEO

SimpleBooks Inc. will invest in developing a professional website that displays all of the features of our accounting software. It will also invest heavily in SEO so that the brand’s website will appear at the top of search engine results.

Direct Mail

SimpleBooks Inc. will blanket businesses with direct mail pieces. These pieces will provide general information on SimpleBooks Inc., offer discounts, and/or provide other incentives for companies to try out our accounting software.

SimpleBooks Inc.’s pricing will be on par with competitors so clients feel they receive great value when purchasing our software.

Operations Plan

The following will be the operations plan for SimpleBooks Inc.: Operation Functions:

• Edward Jameson will be the Owner and CEO of the company. He will oversee all the operations and executive functions of the company. In the beginning, he will also provide customer support and development support until he hires several other developers and customer support professionals.
• Edward will employ an experienced assistant to help with various administrative duties around the office.
• Edward will also hire several developers to develop, improve, and maintain the company’s software products.
• Edward will also hire a solid sales team to sell our products to potential clients. As the company grows, he will also hire a team that is solely dedicated to customer service.

Milestones:

SimpleBooks Inc. will have the following milestones completed in the next six months.

• 5/2023 – Finalize lease agreement
• 6/2023 – Design and build out SimpleBooks Inc.
• 7/2023 – Hire and train initial staff
• 8/2023 – Kickoff of promotional campaign
• 9/2023 – Launch SimpleBooks Inc.
• 10/2023 – Reach break-even

SimpleBooks Inc. is founded by Edward Jameson, who has been a developer for 20 years. His wife is an accountant who was very unhappy with other accounting software products. Other accounting software can be overwhelming to use, unintuitive, and are geared toward large organizations and enterprises. Edward knew of her complaints and developed an accounting software geared towards her small business. Edward’s wife has been successfully using the software for nearly a year, so Edward is confident that this product can help other small and medium-sized businesses with similar accounting needs.

Financial Plan

Key revenue & costs.

The key revenues for SimpleBooks Inc. will come from the monthly fees that are charged to clients for using the software. There are three tiers that clients can choose from. The option that each client chooses will determine how much revenue the company makes.

The major cost drivers for the company include the lease, salaries, overhead, development costs, and marketing expenses.

Funding Requirements and Use of Funds

SimpleBooks Inc. is seeking a total funding of $500,000 of debt capital to launch. The funding will be dedicated to office design, software development, marketing, and working capital. Specifically, these funds will be used as follows:

Key Assumptions

The following outlines the key assumptions required in order to achieve the revenue and cost numbers in the financials and pay off the startup business loan.

• Number of clients:
• Annual rent: $30,000

Financial Projections

Income statement.

Balance Sheet

Cash Flow Statement

Software Company Business Plan FAQs

What is a software company business plan.

A software company business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your software company business. Among other things, it outlines your business concept, identifies your target customers, presents your marketing plan and details your financial projections.

You can easily complete your Software Company business plan using our Software Company Business Plan Template here .

What are the Main Types of Software Company Businesses?

There are a number of different kinds of software company businesses , some examples include: Open source, Client-specific, Programming services, and System services.

How Do You Get Funding for Your Software Company Business Plan?

Software Company businesses are often funded through small business loans. Personal savings, credit card financing and angel investors are also popular forms of funding.

What are the Steps To Start a Software Company Business?

Starting a software company business can be an exciting endeavor. Having a clear roadmap of the steps to start a business will help you stay focused on your goals and get started faster.

1. Develop A Software Company Business Plan - The first step in starting a business is to create a detailed software company business plan that outlines all aspects of the venture. This should include potential market size and target customers, the services or products you will offer, pricing strategies and a detailed financial forecast.

2. Choose Your Legal Structure - It's important to select an appropriate legal entity for your software company business. This could be a limited liability company (LLC), corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks so it’s important to do research and choose wisely so that your software company business is in compliance with local laws.

3. Register Your Software Company Business - Once you have chosen a legal structure, the next step is to register your software company business with the government or state where you’re operating from. This includes obtaining licenses and permits as required by federal, state, and local laws.

4. Identify Financing Options - It’s likely that you’ll need some capital to start your software company business, so take some time to identify what financing options are available such as bank loans, investor funding, grants, or crowdfunding platforms.

5. Choose a Location - Whether you plan on operating out of a physical location or not, you should always have an idea of where you’ll be based should it become necessary in the future as well as what kind of space would be suitable for your operations.

6. Hire Employees - There are several ways to find qualified employees including job boards like LinkedIn or Indeed as well as hiring agencies if needed – depending on what type of employees you need it might also be more effective to reach out directly through networking events.

7. Acquire Necessary Software Company Equipment & Supplies - In order to start your software company business, you'll need to purchase all of the necessary equipment and supplies to run a successful operation.

8. Market & Promote Your Business - Once you have all the necessary pieces in place, it’s time to start promoting and marketing your software company business. This includes creating a website, utilizing social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, and having an effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy. You should also consider traditional marketing techniques such as radio or print advertising. 

Learn more about how to start a successful software company business:

• How to Start a Software Company Business

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10 Free Software Development Plan Templates to Use in 2024

Praburam Srinivasan

Growth Marketing Manager

February 14, 2024

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All software developers and software project managers know that without effective project management, even the best software idea won’t fulfill its promise.

Project management and software development , of course, can be complex. Any chance you take to make it a little more efficient is welcome.

Enter software development templates.

They won’t replace the actual development and coding work your software development teams do. But with the right templates, those essential functions can take center stage and ease the burden on project managers.

The result is better software and a higher chance of completing software projects on time and on budget.

What is a Software Development Template?

What makes a good software development template, 1. clickup software development plan template, 2. clickup impact effort matrix template, 3. clickup product roadmap template, 4. clickup software change log template, 5. clickup software comparison template, 6. clickup app development plan template, 7. clickup development schedule template, 8. clickup app scope outline template, 9. clickup product requirements template, 10. clickup agile project management template.

A software development template is one of the best solutions to efficiently streamline all the tasks and organizational pieces of the software development process, using a standard outline to organize key details, systems, software features, and other project requirements .

This allows your engineering and software teams to focus on the in-depth work and decision-making that ultimately makes or breaks the end product. It’s also key for project managers and product managers to stay on top of their project management.

Software development templates focus on the larger development plan. They might include collaborative documentation and instructions covering:

• Building and updating your project schedule
• Tracking project management key performance indicators
• Prioritizing certain solutions and to-dos over others
• Measuring the overall roadmap, including product scope and requirements
• Efficiently covering the process, documentation, and technology requirements across many teams

Beyond their individual function, software development templates also keep your team and external stakeholders in the loop on the project’s bigger picture.

Even though their specific function may differ, all great software development templates share a few commonalities for project managers to better manage projects:

• They’re easy to implement : Whether they integrate with your project management software or productivity tool, they should be easy to set up and use right away
• They’re easy to update and customize : Especially since agile development is fluid, you require dynamic templates that can evolve and change as projects move forward
• They focus on visuals : A visual focus makes the template more skimmable for viewers, providing a quick and easy collaborative overview of important touchpoints
• They’re easy to share with company stakeholders : Your systems should be easy to access to everyone, including those not part of the core team, to help all stakeholders better manage and communicate about all elements of your project
• They focus on accomplishing a clear goal : Whether it’s project prioritization or technology scope planning, the template should master its core purpose

Finally, the right templates simplify the software project development process, which is possibly the most important feature. Using these solutions should not complicate things but allow a greater focus on the software phases.

10 Software Development Templates for Project Managers

Flexibility is the calling card of all modern software development. So it shouldn’t be surprising that no two software development plan templates are exactly the same. The best solutions to manage projects are those that are tailored to your specific needs and goals, helping with the finer details of your next software sprint.

Look no further if you’re searching for a single template to solve many needs. The ClickUp Software Development Template breaks down the core components from strategy, planning, and roadmapping, to user research, sprint management, and release tracking.

Here are the features and prebuilt processes the template includes:

• A product roadmap
• A weekly task execution list to generate code with AI , fix errors, or evaluate team bandwidth
• A master backlog of tasks still waiting for completion
• A master defects list to gather and manage bugs, security incidents, and issues to solve
• Template tasks for user research
• Prebuilt task lists for sprints and Kanban development processes
• Test scenarios and cases your developers can execute for quality assurance
• Tech support tasks for reporting bugs, reviewing known bug incidents, and listing current workarounds

Software development is a constant give and take of figuring out where to focus your efforts and resources. The ClickUp Impact Effort Matrix Template can help you simplify that process.

It’s a simple structure that rates all to-dos on a two-dimensional scale of effort and impact. Low-effort and high-impact tasks are low-hanging fruit, whereas you probably don’t have to worry about high-effort and low-impact tasks. Regardless, it’s all available in a single view, helping you and your team to focus and prioritize the necessary steps and when to achieve them.

Using the actual template is simple. Add tasks to the Whiteboard, and rate them according to both impact and effort. Place them in the appropriate quadrant, and the overview is complete.

From there, it’s just a matter of keeping your impact effort matrix up to date as the development project progresses. At regular checkpoints with your team, you can quickly remove complete tasks and add new ones coming up.

The software you build needs a roadmap showing how you go from ideation to the final product. And when you’re looking to build that map, a few templates are better than the  Product Roadmap Template by ClickUp .

The core of this template is the map itself. It’s where you outline exactly how you get from points A, B, and C.

Narrow down your overall project into weekly execution charts showing the immediate tasks needed to keep the project on track, and capture any release notes you want to communicate with internal and external stakeholders. You can even build and share product workflows to make sure everyone knows how their tasks align with others.

Add this product roadmap template to your process mapping tool , and it will surprise you how straightforward your development project management becomes.

Iteration is the name of the game, especially once you get past your minimum viable product. That means part of your project documentation has to include keeping track of the changes you’re making to the next iteration.

Enter the Software Change Log Template by ClickUp .

This simple Doc will become your go-to resource for any project. Describe the change that needs to happen, the date of discovery, add a priority level, and assign a task owner. Not only can you keep track of the process to solve it, but you’ll also keep a constant overview of everything in chronological order that needs fixing before the software moves to the next stage.

This  Software Comparison Template by ClickUp is built for more general decision-making than just software development. But applied correctly, it can still be valuable to numerous use cases.

The core of the template helps outline comparisons between different software tools. Fields like customer rating, price, design software, and features give an easy overview of the options that might make sense for engineering teams at a given time.

One way you can use it is for competitive analysis. This involves assessing various alternatives that cater to similar audience needs in order to identify a gap that your new solution could fill.

Discovering your product’s niche can guide your software development team in creating features that meet the expectations of your target audience and help your software stand out among competitors.

Mobile app development is a special type of software development with plenty of unique nuances and considerations. The  App Development Plan Template by ClickUp is built to plan and track your mobile app development.

The App Development Plan view allows you to build core tasks for every stage, from research to market launch. Milestones allow you to break up those processes into key accomplishments. The project’s Timeline and List views provide a more visual look at where things stand at any given time.

With much of the structure prebuilt, you can focus on the tasks your team needs to accomplish to achieve a great output.

Building a new software product that matches audience needs while filling a market gap is challenging, particularly when you work on a tight deadline and with limited resources. The ClickUp’s Development Schedule Template helps you stay on track, no matter how complex things get.

Define the core tasks in each product stage, assign a task owner, and update the task status in real time. Outline exactly when those tasks must begin and end for the software development project to stay on schedule. Track your estimated completion time for tasks and stages against your actual time to see where you won or lost within your timeline.

From there, you can expand beyond the List view. The Product Development Gantt Chart shows a quick overview, while the Product Development Stage and Activities views go deeper into the sectors required to get things done.

These views directly interact with each other, turning your development schedule into a single source of truth that every software development team member can refer to.

Developing your software or app solution depends in part on the project management structure you choose. One thing is clear regardless of your approach: the development process has to stay within scope; otherwise you’ll risk blowing the budget, timeline, or business goals you’ve established at the beginning of the software development.

The App Scope Outline Template by ClickUp looks to make that process simple. The one-page overview outlines the problem, the desired app experience, key objectives, business requirements, and more.

The best part about this template is that you can easily share it internally and externally. That means you can establish a common idea of scope with your client while also communicating that scope with your software development team, keeping everyone on track and moving in the right direction.

In theory, even the best software product matters little when it can’t fulfill the core requirements that were the reason for its build in practice. The  Product Requirements Template by ClickUp allows all stakeholders involved in the development process to come together to define these core needs so everyone stays on the same page throughout the build.

It starts with a simple name, description, and purpose of each feature included in the end product. You can track the defined release month and its progress status throughout the building stage. And you can identify the time frame for developing the feature and decide who will take core responsibility for it.

Looking for more advanced features? You can set priorities and add custom tags, fields, and even dependencies within the distinct features. That way, by the time the product is released, you can be sure that it meets all core requirements.

We finish this guide with a general template for agile tools that can naturally guide your software development process. The Agile Product Management Template by ClickUp prebuilds an iterative software development and project approach that allows you to quickly build, provide feedback, and pivot as needed throughout the process.

To start, you get multiple views. Reserve your List view for the epics, initiatives, and agile user stories. Move to the board for a Kanban organization of to-dos and the workload to identify potential bottlenecks or productivity opportunities. Finally, the mind map can turn a complex roadmap into simpler, actionable pieces.

And advanced users can benefit even further. ClickApps allow you to build sprints, milestones, and dependencies more quickly. Add custom progress status reports for in-progress tasks, and you have the perfect agile tool to create your development workflow.

Focus on What Matters Most With a Software Development Template

Beyond the coding, what’s the most significant variable contributing to successful software development?

Every developer probably answers this question in a slightly different way. But most of them will have themes around goal setting, prioritization, scoping, and resources.

Those are the most significant factors around the edges. And those are the exact factors the right software development plan template can solve for you.

That’s especially beneficial if the templates you use can integrate directly into your productivity tool . Now you don’t just have an overview; that overview directly connects with existing tasks, timelines, and reports.

And that’s where ClickUp comes in. We built our platform for developers, whether you need the features or the templates. Start a Workspace for free today !

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How to Write a Winning Software Company Business Plan + Template

Creating a business plan is essential for any business, but it can be especially helpful for software businesses who want to improve their strategy and raise funding.

A well-crafted business plan not only outlines the vision for your company but also documents a step-by-step roadmap of how you will accomplish it. To create an effective business plan, you must first understand the components that are essential to its success.

This article provides an overview of the key elements that every software business owner should include in their business plan.

Download the Ultimate Business Plan Template

What is a Software Business Plan?

A software business plan is a formal written document that describes your company’s business strategy and its feasibility. It documents the reasons you will be successful, your areas of competitive advantage, and it includes information about your team members. Your business plan is a key document that will convince investors and lenders (if needed) that you are positioned to become a successful venture.

Why Write a Software Business Plan?

A software business plan is required for banks and investors. The document is a clear and concise guide of your business idea and the steps you will take to make it profitable.

Entrepreneurs can also use this as a roadmap when starting their new company or venture, especially if they are inexperienced in starting a business.

Writing an Effective Software Business Plan

The following are the key components of a successful software business plan:

Executive Summary

The executive summary of a software business plan is a one- to two-page overview of your entire business plan. It should summarize the main points, which will be presented in full in the rest of your business plan.

• Start with a one-line description of your software company
• Provide a short summary of the key points in each section of your business plan, which includes information about your company’s management team, industry analysis, competitive analysis, and financial forecast among others.

Company Description

This section should include a brief history of your company. Include a short description of how your company started, and provide a timeline of milestones your company has achieved.

If you are just starting your software business, you may not have a long company history. Instead, you can include information about your professional experience in this industry and how and why you conceived your new venture. If you have worked for a similar company before or have been involved in an entrepreneurial venture before starting your software firm, mention this.

You will also include information about your chosen software business model and how, if applicable, it is different from other companies in your industry.

Industry Analysis

The industry or market analysis is an important component of a software business plan. Conduct thorough market research to determine industry trends and document the size of your market. 

Questions to answer include:

• What part of the software industry are you targeting?
• How big is the market?
• What trends are happening in the industry right now (and if applicable, how do these trends support the success of your company)?

You should also include sources for the information you provide, such as published research reports and expert opinions.

Customer Analysis

This section should include a list of your target audience(s) with demographic and psychographic profiles (e.g., age, gender, income level, profession, job titles, interests). You will need to provide a profile of each customer segment separately, including their needs and wants.

For example, a software business’s customers may include small, medium, and enterprise businesses. Each of these customer segments will have different needs and wants.

You can include information about how your customers make the decision to buy from you as well as what keeps them buying from you.

Develop a strategy for targeting those customers who are most likely to buy from you, as well as those that might be influenced to buy your products or software services with the right marketing.

Competitive Analysis

The competitive analysis helps you determine how your product or service will be different from competitors, and what your unique selling proposition (USP) might be that will set you apart in this industry.

For each competitor, list their strengths and weaknesses. Next, determine your areas of competitive differentiation and/or advantage; that is, in what ways are you different from and ideally better than your competitors.

Below are sample competitive advantages your software business may have:

• Superior customer service
• Strong brand recognition
• Proven track record of success
• Robust product feature set
• Well-funded and experienced management team
• Innovative technology
• Scalable business model
• Strategic partnerships or alliances
• Favorable locations
• Access to important resources, like talent or capital

Keep in mind that your competitive advantages will change over time as your business grows and as new competitors enter the market. It is important to regularly review and update.

Marketing Plan

This part of the business plan is where you determine and document your marketing plan. . Your plan should be clearly laid out, including the following 4 Ps.

• Product/Service : Detail your product/service offerings here. Document their features and benefits.
• Price : Document your pricing strategy here. In addition to stating the prices for your products/services, mention how your pricing compares to your competition.
• Place : Where will your customers find you? What channels of distribution (e.g., partnerships) will you use to reach them if applicable?
• Promotion : How will you reach your target customers? For example, you may use social media, write blog posts, create an email marketing campaign, use pay-per-click advertising, or launch a direct mail campaign. Or you may promote your software business via a mix of these channels.

Operations Plan

This part of your software business plan should include the following information:

• How will you deliver your product/service to customers? For example, will you do it in person or over the phone only?
• What infrastructure, equipment, and resources are needed to operate successfully? How can you meet those requirements within budget constraints?

The operations plan is where you also need to include your company’s business policies. You will want to establish policies related to everything from customer service to pricing, to the overall brand image you are trying to present.

Finally, and most importantly, your Operations Plan will outline the milestones your company hopes to achieve within the next five years. Create a chart that shows the key milestone(s) you hope to achieve each quarter for the next four quarters, and then each year for the following four years. Examples of milestones for a software business include reaching $X in sales. Other examples include acquiring X number of customers or launching a new product line.

Management Team

List your team members here including their names and titles, as well as their expertise and experience relevant to your specific software industry. Include brief biography sketches for each team member.

Particularly if you are seeking funding, the goal of this section is to convince investors and lenders that your team has the expertise and experience to execute on your plan. If you are missing key team members, document the roles and responsibilities you plan to hire for in the future.

Financial Plan

Here you will include a summary of your complete and detailed financial plan (your full financial projections go in the Appendix). 

This includes the following three financial statements:

Income Statement

Your income statement should include:

• Revenue : how much revenue you generate.
• Cost of Goods Sold : These are your direct costs associated with generating revenue. This includes labor costs, as well as the cost of any equipment and supplies used to deliver the product/service offering.
• Net Income (or loss) : Once expenses and revenue are totaled and deducted from each other, this is the net income or loss.

Sample Income Statement for a Startup Software Business

Balance Sheet

Include a balance sheet that shows your assets, liabilities, and equity. Your balance sheet should include:

• Assets : All of the things you own (including cash).
• Liabilities : This is what you owe against your company’s assets, such as accounts payable or loans.
• Equity : The worth of your business after all liabilities and assets are totaled and deducted from each other.

Sample Balance Sheet for a Startup Software Business

Cash Flow Statement

Include a cash flow statement showing how much cash comes in, how much cash goes out and a net cash flow for each year. The cash flow statement should include cash flow from:

• Investments

Below is a sample of a projected cash flow statement for a startup software company.

Sample Cash Flow Statement for a Startup Software Business

You will also want to include an appendix section which will include:

• Your complete financial projections
• A complete list of your company’s business policies and procedures related to the rest of the business plan (marketing, operations, etc.)
• Any other documentation which supports what you included in the body of your business plan.

Write a Winning Business Plan for Your Software Company

Writing a good business plan gives you the advantage of being fully prepared to launch and/or grow your software company. It not only outlines your business vision but also provides a step-by-step process of how you are going to accomplish it.

A business plan is a critical document for any new software company. If you are seeking funding, your business plan will be a key component of your pitch to investors .   

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How to Write a Winning Tech Company Business Plan (+ Template)

Software Development Plan Template

In the real world, projects have deadlines to hit, budgets to stick to, and requirements to meet. No matter what process you use to get work done, you’ve got to have a plan to ensure your software project stays on schedule for a successful delivery. 

Our software development plan template can help you put a clear plan into motion quickly and easily. Use this basic foundation to build out your process and track important tasks and milestones from research to deployment.

What is a software development plan?

A software development plan is simply a timeline of your project. It shows when each phase of your software project is scheduled to begin and end, as well as the steps required to complete each phase of work. 

A software project plan gives your development team a big-picture understanding of what it will take to get the job done on time and budget, including:

• Estimated time to complete work/sprints
• Important milestones, dependencies, deadlines, and deliverables
• Resources needed to accomplish each phase

Why is a software development plan important?

Most software developers use an Agile framework to get work done. And we get it: Agile makes it easy to ship a product and keep iterating on it. 

But it’s still important to have a plan. There are time frames around your work—even when you’re iterating—and that means your project needs a clearly defined start and end date. And someone on your team should always have an eye on the bigger picture to make sure you’re making progress on your goals. 

Using a gantt chart to outline your plan ensures important milestones, like approval or launch dates, don’t get lost in the rush and enables you to account for dependencies between tasks or work phases. It also gives you clear visibility into how work stacks up across all your projects so you can take active steps to keep your team from being overloaded.

Don’t worry: Formalizing your plan doesn’t mean everything’s set in stone. Plans are meant to be flexible, so feel free to adapt your plan to fit your team’s process, whatever that may be. For example, why not build Agile sprints into your gantt chart ? This hybrid approach allows you to:

• Foster collaboration and transparency
• Account for stakeholders in the process and create a more formalized feedback loop 
• Build approval and iteration cycles into your project plan

How to create a software development project plan

Now that you know why a software development plan’s important, let’s talk about how to build one. Here are some common phases most software projects include. Consider these key steps when developing your own project plan. 

Research and discovery

Before diving right into a complex software project, take time to understand the full scope of work and detailed requirements that will lead to a solid finished product. Talk to stakeholders, team members, and even potential users to get their take on how the finished product should function to meet everyone’s needs. 

Once you have a clear grasp on the scope and requirements, use a gantt chart to map out your project timeline and resource assignments. Regardless of your team’s workflow, you’ll need to account for people’s time and include important checkpoints for approvals in the project schedule. 

While some teams can jump into simultaneous design and development sprints, the design team typically needs to visually bring the idea to life before any coding can begin. Don’t forget to build time into your plan for collecting feedback and getting final approval on the design work from stakeholders to ensure a smooth and timely hand-off to developers. 

Environment setup

Does any groundwork need to be laid before development begins? Be sure it’s included in your plan. For example, you may need to schedule in time to set up staging, production, and/or QA environments—depending on what’s important to your team’s testing process. 

A good software development plan encompasses every step of a sprint, including:

• Planning the sprint work
• Running the sprint period 
• QA and testing
• Fixing bugs
• Stakeholder review

There’s no limit to the number of sprint cycles your plan can include, so rinse and repeat the process for as many iterations as you need. Just be sure you’re also planning time for retrospectives and backlog grooming between sprint cycles. 

Don’t forget to keep track of your backlog too! Add a backlog section to your plan so you can add tasks for functionality changes or new user stories as the project progresses.

Every software project is different, and the tasks you include in each phase of your plan will vary based on the work you’re doing. A template provides a great starting point and can be easily customized to fit your process and project needs. 

Free software development plan template

Ready to map out a timeline for your next software project? Give our software development plan template a try! This free gantt chart template gives you access to the following features to enhance your software project planning:

• Task scheduling
• Workload planning
• File sharing
• Team collaboration

Examples of software development plans

Flexibility is everything when it comes to software projects. With TeamGantt, you can view your plan in a variety of formats so it’s easy for anyone on your team to visualize tasks. 

Let’s look at some examples of how you can use TeamGantt’s different views to manage your software development plan. 

Visualize work phases—sprints included!—in a simple timeline format. Here’s a quick glance at a few helpful features you’ll find in the gantt chart view.

Drag and drop

The flexible drag-and-drop interface makes it easy to move things around on the schedule as needed if (and when) things change. Drag entire groups of tasks to quickly reschedule a sprint cycle. Easy as that!

Dependencies

Tasks may need to be completed in a particular order in your project plan. For example, you most likely won’t deploy anything before ensuring that you’ve done at least one round of testing.  Ensure work gets done in the right order with dependencies .

Call out key dates, deadlines, approvals, or deliverables in a project by using milestones , and hit your launch date right on schedule!

Duplicating groups

Need to add more sprint cycles to your plan? Simply duplicate task groups to save time on task setup. Then, drag and drop to reschedule it in your timeline.

Assign resources to tasks

Make sure everyone’s aware of how their work fits into the bigger plan by assigning teams and resources to tasks . 

Looking for a quick rundown of the project work? This view is easy to digest and shows you what each phase of the plan includes with expected delivery days. Use List view to check in at your next standup meeting. 

Use Calendar view to get an intuitive look at when work will fall on the monthly calendar. It’s a great tool for touching base with stakeholders so you can plan reviews around dates that work for them. 

Create a plan for your software development project with TeamGantt

Ready to get started on your next software project? We’ve created a free software development plan template for you in TeamGantt so you can jump right in!

Customizing the template is quick and easy, thanks to TeamGantt’s drag and drop simplicity. And since everything’s online, your whole team can collaborate on activities in real time.

Sign up for a free TeamGantt account today , and save time on project setup with this free software development plan template!

Sample Software Development Business Plan Template PDF

Software developer business plan sample.

Do you want to start a software development business and you are looking for a software development business plan sample? Software development business is a business that deals with developing application that would be used with system or phone.

In this article, I present you a software development business plan sample that you can use as a guide to create a business plan for your software development business.

Here is a sample business plan for starting a mobile and PC software development company.

BUSINESS NAME: Sandracast Software developer

Executive Summary

• Our Products and Services

Vision Statement

Mission Statement

• Business structure
• Market Analysis

Sales and Marketing Strategy

• Financial Plan

Sales Forecast

Sandracast software Developer Company is a software company that has fulfilled the entire requirement for starting a business in New York, United state of America. The business will do all within the law to fully carry out all it operations. And we are set to offer the best services to our clients.

Stanley Cassandra Cynthia will be the owner and the CEO of Sandracast software developer company. She has contributed a total of $350,000 towards starting the business, while plans have been made to secure the remainder from the bank to complete the total startup capital of $500,000.

Our Product and Services

Sandracast software developer is a system software developer in New York, United State which will be especially interested in providing its services for client not only in New York or the United state alone, but throughout the world. We have made plans that will actually make this possible and presently we are equipped beyond reasoning to start a nice business. Below are some of the things that highlight our preparation:

• Purchase of computers and laptop which are using the latest software updates in the world.
• An unlimited internet supply that would make us keep working without interruption.
• A 24hours Electricity source that would not aid our productivity.
• Comfortable environment for staffs to carry out their activities.
• Well furnished office.

With this set in place we know our services will not be altered. Our headquarter will be in New York, United state.

Our services will be based on Developing system applications which may include games, and other utilities application that will be used by both the system and phone.

Our vision in the software development company is to attain the height of best software producers in the industry, to also be the leading developer when it comes to updating our applications.

Our mission is to be able build and develop standard application which will be made available on all platform. These platforms include the Windows, Android phones, Apple amongst others. We are ready to take the software world by a storm.

Business Structure

Due to the strong and intense competition in the market and the importance of software to the system, Samdracast will only be employing computer scientist, software developers and some computer engineer who are good and have a beautiful C.V showing applications or software they have previously worked on.

Market Analysis Market Trend

To develop mobile and system applications expertise, commitment, and great sacrifice is needed so as meet the high demand for up to date application in the world. The world has so many developers and the secret to their success is staying relevant. This is what we are preparing to do.

Target Market

Our target market includes:

• Computer training centres.
• The general public also included.
• Software Engineer.
• Governmental Industries.

Our business will be greatly promoted by our great customers who have received the best services from us.

Since our success depends more on proper and good marketing strategies, below are some of the tools we will use in marketing our company:

• Online advertisement, this would be used judiciously in marketing our company, especially since most users will be using either a system or a Smartphone.
• Social media, most of our customers would be captured by advert sponsored on social media like Facebook, Instagram amongst others.
• Our company would be greatly broadcasted on the Television.
• We would use both Billboards and flyers to inform the world about our industry.
• We would also us the Radio service to spread the gospel about our company.
• Training at selected institutions would also be used to market and sell our products
• The Newspaper would also be used to advertise our company.

Financial Plan Source of Startup Capital

To really make our mark, we need more than enough resources materially and financially to begin with. As of present we have been able to realize a total sum of $350,000. In other to complete the remaining fund which amounts to $150,000 we would obtain bank loan.

Below are the sales forecast for our software developing company that is Samdracast software developer. This forecast is for the first three years of operation. This is clearly based on credible statistical data which was obtained from the industry.

First Fiscal Year $380,000 Second Fiscal Year $650,000 Third Fiscal Year $1,000,000

This article contains a software developing which bears the name, Samdracast software developer. The business will operate from New York, in the United State. It will be owned and headed by Stanley Cassandra Cynthia.

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FoodFun Lifeskills Instructional Software

Executive summary executive summary is a brief introduction to your business plan. it describes your business, the problem that it solves, your target market, and financial highlights.">.

FoodFun Lifeskills Instructional Software (FoodFun LIS) is a start-up organization whose vision is to create the finest education/entertainment software for non-reading individuals with developmental disabilities. The software product has been designed and created by a Ph.D. veteran of the special education industry, to meet the needs of this special customer segment. The software will be constructive by teaching certain lifeskills and will be fun to use, encouraging the student to use it as often as possible. FoodFun LIS was formed as an Illinois L.L.C. by founder and owner is Sue Altamirankow, Ph.D. and will be based in Chicago.

The Market FoodFun has identified four distinct market segments that will be interested in the software product. These segments are the most likely consumers of the software. The segments are as follows:

• Centers for Independent Living – These centers exist to help train individuals with developmental disabilities to live on their own. The curriculum is often based around four primary lifeskills that are necessary for the individuals to have in order to successfully live independently.
• School Districts – All states are required to provide education for students of special needs until they reach the age of 21. The school districts are often the educational providers until the students are 18 and will be interested in FoodFun’s software as they help the students obtain fundamental lifeskills.
• Proactive Parents – Parents who are taking an active role in the education of their children will be looking for aids that they can use at home to help with their child’s learning progress.
• Agencies – Many states have formed agencies that act as brokers to connect service providers with individuals. The agencies have generally been formed as a result of a settlement or payout from a lawsuit (including class action).

Parents are expected to purchase only one copy of the program, while the other segments will generally purchase multiple copies/site licenses and are likely to purchase upgrades to subsequent versions.

The Product Grocery shopping and socialization/leisure are two of the main lifeskills which individuals with developmental disabilities are taught. FoodFun has developed a unique software product that is an effective teaching aid for these important skills. The first component of the software is grocery shopping. This takes the form of a digital cookbook of recipes. Each recipe is represented by a picture. When the student chooses the picture they desire, they then see a list of pictures which are the ingredients and utensils needed to make the dish. The student is then able to print out the pictures and take the pictures to the grocery store, allowing them to shop independently.

The second component is the socialization/leisure time module that provides the user with a choice of many different social events/parties for which they can prepare food. This module allows students to plan for a party (and we know EVERYONE loves to plan for parties) and incorporates music linked to each type of social event to provide entertainment for the user. Many/most individuals with developmental disabilities will receive shear joy when they click on a social even and hear the music.

Competitive Edge There are several companies on the market selling educational products for this target segment. FoodFun LIS will leverage their competitive edge by incorporating entertainment into their software product, a means of creating interest and joy while using the software. This interest and joy will increase the amount of time that the students use the software, thereby increasing the effectiveness of the program. FoodFun is convinced that when students enjoy what they are doing they are likely to use the product instead of having to be forced to use it.

Management FoodFun has been founded and will be led by Dr. Sue Altamirankow. Sue has a Masters and Ph.D. in special education and has been teaching in the university setting for eight years. Her published thesis “Implications in Lifeskill Training for Individuals with Autism” was a ground-breaking paper that carefully studied all aspects of lifeskills. This was the foundation of her idea to start a software company. She realized that she could develop a study aid that would be fun and effective. It would be fun because the students would enjoy using it, it would be effective because it taught important necessary lifeskills to individuals with developmental disabilities who begin to live more independently. FoodFun has forecasted revenues of $400,397 and $490,000 for years two and three.

1.1 Mission

To develop fun-to-use educational software for non-readers with developmental disabilities. Our software will provide lifeskills training that empowers the individuals and make them more independent. We exist to make products that the market demands and have a positive impact on society.

1.2 Keys to Success

• Develop educational software that is constructive and fun. If it is not fun, it likely will not be used.
• Implement a strong marketing campaign to develop awareness of the software and its benefits within all of the training centers, school districts, brokerages, and among parents.
• Design strict financial controls for the organization.

1.3 Objectives

• Increase sales by triple for the first two years.
• Achieve 20% market penetration by year four.
• Assist more than 10,000 different individuals with development disabilities.

Company Summary company overview ) is an overview of the most important points about your company—your history, management team, location, mission statement and legal structure.">

FoodFun Lifeskills Instructional Software is a start-up organization, founded as an Illinois based L.L.C. The company is owned by its founder Sue Altamirankow.

2.1 Company Ownership

The company was founded and is owned by Sue Altamirankow. Sue is a respected, published, former educator of special education with an emphasis on autism. Sue will leverage her extensive knowledge and industry contacts to make FoodFun LIS a success.

2.2 Start-up Summary

FoodFun LIS is a start-up organization. The following assets and professional services will be needed for the formation and start of operations.

• Legal services for company formation.
• Accounting services to set up the accounting shell of the company QuickBooks Pro software.
• Computer programmers (3) to rapidly develop the software. An individual programmer could complete the coding of this product however, FoodFun is interested in launching the product fast therefore they will employ multiple programmers to speed the process up.
• Eight computer workstations, including one server. Seven of the stations will have Microsoft Office, one of them will have QuickBooks Pro. Three networked laser printers.
• A broadband Internet connection.
• Office cubicle furniture for seven employees.
• Seven extension telephone system.
• Copier and fax machine.
• Lunch room furniture and appliances including a refrigerator and microwave.
• Shipping materials including boxes, scales, etc.
• Promotional materials.

Non-readers rely on visual images as a form of communication, a replacement for the more typical text that readers are able to understand. The first component of the software is a digital cookbook of recipes. The software displays pictures of the different ingredients needed for the recipe. The pictures are then printed allowing the individual to take the picture to the grocery store facilitating the purchasing of the groceries. On each picture is also text explaining what the item is. Within each recipe is the ability to print the different utensils and pots needed to complete the item. While the recipes are meant to be cooked with support, the main goal is to allow the individual to have independent shopping.

The user first sees a bunch of different pictures of food dishes with names below the pictures. The user then chooses a dish and is brought to a screen where the ingredients are listed by picture and also the different utensils/pots/pans needed are listed. Once the user chooses what they want to prepare they can then print up a list of the different ingredients. The list is picture based (with text) and they are able to take the picture list to the grocery to assist them in purchasing the ingredients independently.

The second component of the software is the social occasion/party planning module. This is the fun part (in addition to the fun food pictures). Everyone likes to plan for party. The screen opens with pictures showing different occassions such as a picnic in the park, friends and movie night, birthday party, holiday event, pool party, etc. When the user clicks on the chosen image they hear 30 seconds of background music in a theme matched to the event that they have chosen. Once they have chosen the event the software takes them through the different steps of food preparation for the event. These food preparation steps are the previously explained food component that is now organized not by dish but by event. If a picnic in a park is chosen there will be several dishes to be made, all of them cold as there is no way of heating the dishes while you are in the park. All users of this module will be entertained by the background sounds as well as the excitement of planning for a party.

This component is especially important in the individual’s development. Planning activities are especially important for a population that is so isolated. Without socialization skills such as parties, the clients end up learning the skills and then sit in their apartment alone.

Ultimately, FoodFun’s software product combines two of the most important lifeskills/transition training areas, food preparation and social leisure. The food component allows the non-reading individuals with developmental disabilities to become more independent in their daily activities. The social planning module leverages the existing food module and assists the users in panning for social occassions centered around food. This module is designed to be entertaining to capture the interest and imagination of the user, drawing them into the software, creating the desire to use the product. 

The software product will be developed by three contract programmers. The software will be upgraded yearly.

Market Analysis Summary how to do a market analysis for your business plan.">

The market for lifeskills training software can be segmented into four groups. The first is centers for independent living, the second is school districts, the third is proactive parents, and the last is agencies charged with special education administration. Each of the four segments is distinct and will be communicated with in different ways. These four segments have been chosen because they are the main purchasers of products for individuals with developmental disabilities.

The software industry for individuals with developmental disabilities has just begun to grow. Only within the last few years has there been a significant increase in the number of computers found in classrooms using specialized software. Competing with the software companies are products that have printed pictures on them, typically laminated cards. While these cards are helpful, they are less interactive. 

4.1 Market Segmentation

FoodFun LIS has identified four distinct market segments for their products:

• Centers for Independent Living – These are typically not-for-profit entities that assist individuals with developmental disabilities. The centers help clients with transition skills, making them more independent. These centers offer a wide range of lifeskills training for the individuals.
• School Districts – All students are guaranteed an education therefore the school districts must provide the appropriate education until the individual is 21 years old. School districts are consumers of these products in pursuit of their goal of providing the students with an appropriate education.
• Proactive Parents – These are parents of individuals with developmental disabilities who are taking an active role in their child’s education/lifeskill training. Reinforcing these skills as much as possible is useful, therefore there are many parents that will purchase the software for home use.
• Agencies – Many states, often as a reaction to a lawsuits (individual and class actions) have set up agencies or brokerages whose purpose is to dispense money from the state to the service providers assisting the individuals in need.

4.2 Target Market Segment Strategy

These four target segments were chosen because they have the greatest likelihood of purchasing FoodFun’s products.

• Centers for Independent Living – The centers typically buy aids to assist in the teaching of lifeskills and other transition skills to their clients.
• School Districts – In order to assist the school districts in teaching the students (a federal requirement) the districts will use instructional tools and aids. Instructional tools are particularly useful as the ratio of students to teachers is often high and these aids help the school manage the students better.
• Proactive Parents – Parents that are interested in helping with their child’s education will seek useful devices that they can use at home.
• Agencies – The agencies are often given sums of money and must spend it on the students’ education/training. The agencies are always looking for products that will be useful in providing students with necessary skills.

4.3 Industry Analysis

There are several companies making products that specifically address learning needs for individuals with developmental disabilities. While some of the companies’ products are also suitable for traditional students, most companies in this industry specialize on products for developmental disabilities.

Within the industry there are a wide range of products. There are many different product groups that target specific types of disabilities. There are also different products targeted on a specific disability. Some might concentrate on spelling, reading comprehension, counting, sentence construction, etc. Lastly, within each specific category products take different forms, some may be CDs, software, cards, audio tapes, etc.

4.3.1 Competition and Buying Patterns

There are three main companies that are direct competitors to FoodFun Lifeskills Instructional Software, focusing on individuals with developmental disabilities or individuals with autism (75% of individuals with autism are developmentally disabled and non-readers).

• WordWise – This company makes several products including picture-based language programs, laminated picture cards, and community success CDs. While their software has a grocery shopping module, it is very simple and limited in the choices of grocery items.
• Edbydesign.com – This company has several products including: sentence maker, match maker, counting programs, and sorting programs. These are all non-interactive CD-based programs.
• Autismcoach.com – This company makes software that is designed to strengthen core cognitive skills such as short-term memory, mental processing speed, multi-tasking and auditory processing. This is primarily for a younger customer age of 10-17.

Strategy and Implementation Summary

FoodFun’s marketing strategy will be to raise visibility of the software product among the decision makers who are in charge of purchasing aids and instructional tools. The campaign will be targeted to reach these people/organizations so that they are aware of the options they have in developing the skills of individuals with developmental disabilities. Lastly, the sales strategy will seek to convince the prospective customers that there can be significant gains in learning through FoodFun’s carefully designed software.

A table with sales forecast information and charts displaying monthly and yearly sales projections follows. 

5.1 Competitive Edge

FoodFun LIS’ competitive edge is their clever incorporation of entertaining fun within the education software. Currently, there are several different vendors that are marketing software for this niche, however, the software is strictly educational. While this is well and good for developing skills, the students are not always that eager to use the software. FoodFun has adopted the philosophy that if they can make the education/training fun, the students will use it far more often, having fun while they are learning valuable skills.

Two different studies (not developmental disability specific studies, but the results are still applicable) have shown that if students are enjoying themselves, they will spend 2.4 times as long using the software that they perceive as fun. What this means is that the student is spending 2.4 times as long developing necessary skills when they are enjoying the software. FoodFun has incorporated entertainment aspects to their software to utilize this phenomenon.

5.2 Marketing Strategy

FoodFun’s marketing strategy reflects their perception of the industry: that most of the companies operating today are operated by educators; that they make nice products; but not many people know about the products, and overall awareness is poor. The reality is that so many prospective customers in the United States are unaware of the different available products. FoodFun will employ an aggressive marketing strategy to raise awareness of their products among customers who are in need of these products, and thereby increasing software purchases. FoodFun will be advertising heavily in various industry journals and magazines as a proven method of reaching the target audience. The ads will generate awareness of FoodFun LIS and will lead the customers to FoodFun’s website where they can demo the software. This strategy is based on the philosophy that you can have a great product, but if no one knows about it you are not going to be successful.

5.3 Sales Strategy

FoodFun will use an aggressive sales campaign that will rely on conference participation as well as target cold calling. There are numerous industry conferences throughout the country that are specifically for educators. The conferences are the places where people get together and share strategies that work with their colleagues in different departments and different states. While the conferences are not typically packed with vendors, FoodFun LIS will be present since the conferences are a captive assortment of the right people – the educators that are in the trenches working with the special students. The conferences will be an excellent networking opportunity and should develop significant sales.

The second prong of the sales strategy will be a campaign aimed at contacting key decision makers and introducing them to FoodFun LIS and their products. Autism consultants for school districts comprise one group that will be targeted. The districts often take the consultants’ recommendations when making purchasing decisions for special education. Research will be done to determine states’ education districts structures to determine if it is the ESD (educational service district) that is providing the services or if the money has been given to agencies to disperse to various service providers. This information will be valuable in determining who is the proper consumer for the special software. These personal contacts will help generate significant sales.

5.3.1 Sales Forecast

The following table and charts present sales forecasts in a monthly format as well as yearly projections. Forecasts have been conservatively estimated to increase the likelihood of attainment. Sales has been broken down by customer group.

A fulfillment house will be contracted to produce, package, and ship the hard copy software product to purchasers. Download of the software from the FoodFun LIS website will be available. This will drastically reduce cost of goods if purchasers use the download only purchase option.

5.4 Milestones

FoodFun LIS has several milestones, presented in the following table and chart, which will be instrumental in the success of the organization.

Web Plan Summary

FoodFun will develop a website that will be used as both a marketing and sales tool. On the site interested parties can receive more information regarding the company and the current product list. Once the beta version of the software is ready interested customers can download a trial version of the software for their evaluation. The website will also provide people with company contact information to allow them to ask any questions that they may have.

Online sales will be contracted to one of the third party Internet sales businesses, such as Yahoo! Shopping. The site will provide customers with a download only purchase option.

6.1 Website Marketing Strategy

The website will be marketed using simple yet effective means. The first method is inclusion of the URL address in all promotional activities. This will be especially important because it will allow all interested parties to view screen shots of the software and download a trial version of the product. FoodFun LIS recognizes that no ad will be able to communicate everything, therefore FoodFun will rely on the website to provide the additional information. The second marketing tool for the website will be comprehension search engine submission. The submission process will provide FoodFun will many visitors to the website. This will be accomplished when an interested party searches on “autism software” or some other set of keywords. The search engine will then list a number of “hits” that correspond to the search terms.

6.2 Development Requirements

FoodFun will employ one computer science student for the design and development of the website. Development will occur concurrently with the development of the software.

Management Summary management summary will include information about who's on your team and why they're the right people for the job, as well as your future hiring plans.">

Sue spent eight years teaching at Northwestern. While she taught a number of general special education classes, her passion was lifeskills for individuals with developmental disabilities, focusing on life transitions. In addition to teaching, Sue served as a member of the board of several different nonprofit agencies. Her time spent on the different boards was quite pleasing since it provided her with a bit more direct experience with the individuals in need. In the school setting most of her interactions was specifically with graduate and undergraduate students.

Sue began to realize as much as she enjoyed teaching, she felt isolated from the students that she was trying to help. She recognized that her work as an educator would in effect benefit the students, but she was looking for a different connection. Because she had an amazing amount of knowledge about the subject of special education, Sue began to brainstorm some ideas of starting a business that would serve individuals with developmental disabilities. While this intrigued Sue, she did not feel she had the requisite business experience, so she took several business courses to help develop this new skill set. While taking these course (and teaching at the same time) Sue began to realize that while there were many different study aids on the market, they were all strictly educational. Sue believed (and studies would indicate) that if a fun component was added to the aid, students would use it more often and learn more. With this information in hand, Sue began to create an idea for some software that was both educational and entertaining at the same time. This was the beginning of FoodFun Lifeskills Instructional Software. 

7.1 Personnel Plan

FoodFun LIS will require the following employees:

• Sue- she will be doing a little of everything from HR to business development to product development to finance.
• Accounting- an accounting clerk will be hired.
• Software development- two employees will be in charge writing manuals, instructions, and product bug updates, and version upgrades.
• Marketing Sales- two employees will be hired to generate sales.
• Customer Service- two employees will be used to field any questions from customers or address any concerns/problems regarding orders as well technical difficulties.

Financial Plan investor-ready personnel plan .">

The following sections outline important financial information.

8.1 Important Assumptions

The following table details important financial assumptions.

8.2 Break-even Analysis

The Break-even Analysis is shown below.

8.3 Projected Profit and Loss

The table and charts illustrate the projected profit and loss.

8.4 Projected Cash Flow

The following chart and table show projected cash flow.

8.5 Projected Balance Sheet

The following table presents the projected balance sheet.

8.6 Business Ratios

The following table outlines some of the more important ratios from the Computer Software industry. The final column, Industry Profile, details specific ratios based on the industry as it is classified by the Standard Industry Classification (SIC) code, 5045.9903.

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Software Development Plan: Comprehensive Guide and Free Templates

Dec 14, 2023

24 mins read

Table of Contents

Behind every on-time, on-budget, and seamless software lies a solid and comprehensive software development plan. It’s the strategic roadmap that aligns resources, budget, and timelines, preventing potential project risks and assuring a smooth journey from concept to execution.

In this article, we will help you create a software development plan from scratch, by digging into fundamental knowledge, step-by-step guide, and best practices, and providing a popular software development plan template. Let’s get cracking!

What Is a Software Development Plan?

A software development plan (SDP)  is a strategic roadmap that outlines the entire software development life cycle ( SDLC ) , including goals, resources, budget, and timeline. It helps ensure efficient development, resource management, risk prevention, cost control, and successful software delivery.

A well-crafted project plan for software development sets the foundation for a smooth software development project and acts as a bridge between development teams and stakeholders, ensuring everyone is on the same page. In contrast, a development project without guidance can lead to delays, budget overruns, and potential chaos.

A comprehensive software development life cycle project plan includes the following key elements:

• Project goals and requirements: Clearly identify the purpose, target users, functional and non-functional requirements, and desired outcomes of the end product.
• Timeline and milestones: Create a realistic software development timeline with detailed and precise milestones, providing a project roadmap for everyone to stay on track.
• Roles and responsibilities allocation: Define each team member’s responsibilities and tasks to guarantee efficient accountability and collaboration.
• Budget: Estimate the development costs, resources expenses, and other associated expenses.

How to Create a Software Development Plan: Step-by-step Guide

How to plan a software development project? Here are some key phases included in creating a software development plan:

Analyze the project’s scope and requirement 

Start your software implementation project plan by analyzing the requirements requested by the client. Here are some crucial factors to consider:

• Alignment: How does the client’s need and request fit in with the company’s ability and expertise?
• Resources: Does the company have the infrastructure, human, tech stacks, and time to achieve the project’s goals?
• Budget: What is the client’s offered pricing model and budget for this software development project? And is it consistent with the company’s pricing models and resources?

Define project objectives

After deeply understanding the client’s requirements for the project, the next step is identifying the software project’s goals and objectives. A clear objective provides a clear view of the roadmap and the final destination for the team. 

A well-defined objective and requirement right from the start is essential in a successful software development plan. It is the foundational “compass” to avoid misunderstandings, ensuring everyone understands the project’s purpose .

The project’s objectives defining phase includes specifying intentions, visions, and preferred endpoint. Applying formulas like SMART criteria (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) can make objectives more concrete and actionable.

Build an effective software development team

Based on the objectives defined in Step 2, you can form a development team with roles and capabilities that match the project’s scope and meet customer expectations.

This step is critical, especially in a Waterfall or Scrum project . Picking the proper member right from the start decides the project’s success in meeting the quality and delivery time.

When it comes to agile software development projects, the team will be divided into smaller independent units. Each sub-team has its focus on distinct development phases.

In other scenarios, the project might need an outsourced team for certain tasks. Therefore, identifying involved stakeholders is also crucial in this step. In case your team has never cooperated with an external team before, here comes a list of 10 reliable agile offshore software development companies that are worth considering.

Lastly, after the full team is formed, assigning a project manager becomes essential for efficiently managing the entire team. The ideal project manager should possess prior experience in a similar or relevant project type, and have an in-depth knowledge of the domain.

Identify risks and mitigation

Now, when the clients, developers, stakeholders, and other parties are involved, the whole team can sit down together and identify potential challenges and develop a mitigation plan accordingly. 

To create a thorough plan, the team needs to go through end-to-end production stages , covering from development, testing, UI/UX design, and system integration to product launch.

In order to effectively manage risk, your team can leverage popular tools that help spot all possible issues like the risk matrix , also known as a probability and severity risk matrix. This allows demonstrate the probability of a problem occurring and predict its consequences . In case you are delegating your software development project to an outsourced team, make sure they are qualified with risk management certifications. 

LTS Group is an ISO 9001:2015 certified company which ensures that all of our project managers and technical leaders are fully aware of risk management and how to mitigate and eliminate risk throughout the software development process.

Create a timeline

Developing a software development project timeline with realistic deadlines , and milestones helps in setting expectations, and monitoring and tracking the progress. 

Milestones included in the development process could be “design phase complete”, “MVP version complete”, etc. These milestones determine tentative deadlines that allow clients, stakeholders, and internal teams to seamlessly keep track of the software delivery timeline. 

Before finalizing the timeline, make sure to have all the team member’s agreement. Any suggestions from the team members about extending deadlines, or any other arising tools, etc., should be discussed and agreed upon starting the project. This ensures no unexpected incidents will interrupt the software development process.

Continually review and adjust the project plan

In this ever-evolving technology industry, being flexible and adaptive is crucial to stay ahead of the game. Linear as the software development plan may seem, the project manager or team leader can collect project data and analyze it to make adjustments to the plan if needed to enhance efficiency.

This step requires a metric to track and evaluate the project’s performance and quality. Without these metrics and measurements, there won’t be useful data to analyze to make informed decisions and manage the project effectively.

Software Development Plan Templates

A project plan template for software development is a valuable “assistant” for an effective software project management plan and organization. It benefits your team in specifying requirements, organizing key details, and streamlining tasks by providing a standard outline. 

A well-designed software development plan template will help your team focus on the informed decision-making process , and the specialized work , by covering the following functions:

• Creating and updating project timeline, schedule, and status
• Tracking key performance indicators
• Determining priority for certain solutions and tasks
• Assessing the overall roadmap, project scope, and requirements
• Effectively addressing the process, technology requirements, and documentation across multiple teams

So, what makes a good software development template? Despite differing in specific functions, all the great software development plan templates share the following common characteristics:

• Ease of implementation: These templates should allow quick and straightforward setup, allowing seamless integration with other project management platforms and tools.
• Ease of update and customization: These templates need to be dynamic, quickly adaptive, updated, and customized as project progress changes, especially in agile projects.
• Visual focus: Templates with a user-friendly visual will facilitate collaboration among team members by providing a quick and easily understandable overview of important touchpoints.
• Ease of accessibility for stakeholders: All of your in-house and outsourced team members, and other inside-out stakeholders should easily access the templates system, ensuring smooth collaboration and communication regarding all project elements.
• Goal-centric accomplishment: Each template should focus on one core objective, whether it’s technology scope planning, mitigation plan, or project prioritization, ensuring that the template’s function can achieve its intended goal.

Are you ready to map out a timeline for your next software development project? Check out the following 5 major software development plan examples:

Simple software project plan template

Download a Simple Software Project Plan Template

This simple software project planning template provides a straightforward task-based guideline for development execution.

How it works: Enter your project’s detailed information including

• Scope of work, 
• Project managers, 
• Main deliverables timeline, and dates .

With sprint-based swimlanes , this template allows your team to organize the project’s primary tasks . For each task, input the due date, and status, assign a person in charge, and monitor the completion percentages.

When to use: This template is best for projects that require a simple, task-centric guide for software development planning and execution.

Software development project plan template

Download a Software Development Project Plan Template

This comprehensive template offers a Gannt chart for effective visual software project timeline planning. 

How it works: This template features functions like a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) task numbering, due date column, estimated work in hours, and task owner column . With the visual-centric Gannt chart interface, this template allows your team to have a clear and easy-to-skim of the project timeline, tasks, and progress. In addition, a burndown chart provides the amount of remaining and completed work for each sprint.

When to use: This template is ideal for projects that require a comprehensive landscape , suitable for various methodologies.

Software deployment project plan template

Download a Software Deployment Project Plan Template 

This software deployment project template serves as a Waterfall or Agile tool to ensure that your project deliverables are on the right track .

How it works: For each task, input your project’s detailed information including track status (eg. Planned, Ongoin, Done), story points, and set deployment due dates. This template also concludes an “At risk” column which allows you to identify the tasks that miss the deployment deadline. 

When to use: This template is applied when planning deployment projects, most adaptable to Waterfall and Agile methodologies .

Agile software development project plan template

Download a Software Rollout and Implementation Plan Template

Agile software development plan template is an all-inclusive management tool for Agile software development projects, guiding you through project completion with sprint and task-based swimlanes. 

How it works: Enter story points for each sprint’s task and feature to consider each factor accurately , and then determine how it affects the project’s overall success. By this, your team can account for every feature and component that must be completed by the end of each sprint or the overall project. With the overall progress field in this template, your team can follow tabs on the completion percentage of each sprint or the overall project. 

When to use: This template is applied when planning and executing Agile software development projects , ensuring comprehensive management coverage .

Software migration plan template

Download a Software Migration Plan Template

This software migration template provides a high-level overview of your major software migration projects. 

How it works: This template includes built-in tasks such as assessing potential risks, identifying the opportunity, and more. The dropdown menu under each task allows you to choose the subtasks f or detailed software planning, including reviewing implementation strategy, and needed resources, or identifying operating costs.

When to use: This template is ideal for planning software migrations , ensuring a strategic approach.

What to Avoid When Creating a Software Development Plan?

Creating a software development plan is challenging. Being aware of possible risks will help you avoid costly damages. Here are some reasons leading to possible failure of a software development plan that you have to pay attention to:

• Weak vision and unclear goal: A successful product development strategy cannot start from a vague idea. Without a clear and concise goal and vision, your team will easily lose direction and ultimately go off the rails.
• Plan for wrong needs: Every software development project is executed to solve a specific problem. However, as development evolves, and new challenges occur, it is essential to make necessary adjustments to adapt to the latest needs.
• Unrealistic timelines and deadlines: Scheduling impractical timeframes can elevate pressure and result in a rushed development process, leading to a decline in the quality of the final product.
• Poor resource allocation: Inappropriate allocation of resources like tools, personnel, and equipment can result in delays, decreased productivity, and quality concerns. Precise resource allocation is crucial for meeting the project’s requirements.
• Communication barriers: Improper communication strategies and tools between team members can interrupt the workflow, lead to misunderstandings, and conflicts,  and ultimately slow down the project.
• Lack of quality assurance and testing: The software development plan can not miss the testing plan , code reviews, and QA metrics . Otherwise, bugs, bad user experiences, and system issues will cause you unpredicted expenses and lead to project overrun.

Why Is a Software Development Plan Important?

An effective software development plan refers to successful project management and execution. It helps foster collaboration and transparency in a project and avoid overruns in deadlines and budgets.

Here a some important aspects of the software development plan:

• Clear role and responsibilities identification: Assigning roles in the early phase and transparently documenting those assignments can ensure accountability for each task.
• Precise requirement analysis: Creating a software development plan allows your team to deeply understand the client’s requirements and make informed decisions to meet their needs.
• Timely deadline achievement: A software development plan outlines a clear and specific timeframe for each task or phase of the project, enabling team members to easily track the project’s progress and ensure timely completion.
• Effective budget oversight: A detailed software development plan includes careful budget and fund allocation, serving as a blueprint for your team to follow and maintain alignment with the project budget.

Frequently Asked Questions About Software Development Plan

1. what is a software development plan.

A software development plan is a comprehensive roadmap for your software project. It helps outline the entire process and strategy for developing software, including timelines, resources, and tasks required to meet the project’s needs. The plan acts as a structured guideline for the development team and stakeholders throughout the project.

2. How to plan a software development project?

Planning a software development project involves the following key steps: Analyzing the project’s scope and requirements , Defining project objectives , Building an effective software development team , Identifying risks and mitigation , Creating a timeline , and Continually reviewing and adjusting the project plan. Each step needs the involvement of every member from different departments to ensure alignment, facilitate a collective understanding, and adjust necessary changes in the initial stages.

3. What should be included in a software development plan?

A comprehensive software development plan requires several key elements. This includes clear project goals and requirements ; specific timelines and milestones , suitable roles and responsibilities allocation , and effective budget oversight . In addition, each element needs regular feedback , approval mechanisms , and change management to ensure a well-managed and systematic process.

Final Thoughts About Software Development Plan

The planning process of a software development project is as important as the implementation of it. The software development plan acts as a foundation, laying the groundwork for the overall project’s success. 

A well-defined software development plan serves as a guide to keep the project on track, and on budget , and avoid possible risks like delays, budget overruns, and quality issues. 

However, creating a software development plan is challenging. We hope that our guidance, tips, and software development templates can provide you with a more comprehensive understanding and help you save time in customizing your effective plan. If you find yourself in need of further guidance or professional advice, reach out to LTS Group’s experts – we are here to help!

Website: https://ltsgroup.tech/ 

Tel: (+84) 24-6660-7474

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lts-group-vietnam

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Ashley Nguyen

Meet Ashley Nguyen, our dedicated Content Marketing specialist with a passion for digital transformation, AI, and software development. Ashley's words bridge the gap between complex tech concepts and everyday understanding. Her insightful pieces not only educate but also inspire readers to embrace the ever-evolving landscape of innovation. Join her in exploring the evolving landscape of technology and innovation. Contact her at [email protected]

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Other Success Stories

Hybrid App Development: Detailed Guide for Businesses in 2024

Jul 26, 2024

18 min read

With the global number of mobile phone users projected to reach 7.49 billion in 2025 by Statista, it’s clear that businesses have long ceased debating whether to build a mobile app. Instead, the focus has shifted to which mobile development approach is the most optimal: native, web, or hybrid app development. Making this decision is not an easy task, necessitating the deliberation of many different factors like budget, timeline, user interface (UI), user experience (UX), maintenance needs, and the skill set of the development team. Hybrid mobile app development, in particular, has gained significant traction recently. The Ionic Developer Survey, which gathered insights from over 13,000 developers, revealed that 32.7% of developers plan to move away from native development in favor of hybrid. Additionally, there has been a nearly 700% decrease in developers exclusively using native tools. In this article, we cover everything organizations should know about hybrid app development, from deciding when to develop hybrid apps to step-by-step instructions on building them, along with detailed insights into project costs, and much more. So, let’s get started! Table of Contents Toggle What is Hybrid App Development?When to Develop Hybrid Apps?How to Build a Hybrid App?Step 1. Planning the hybrid appStep 2. Setting up the development environmentStep 3. Building app architecture Step 4: Designing the user interfaceStep 5: Coding app functionalitiesStep 6: Testing and debuggingStep 7: Deploying and publishing the appStep 8: Monitoring and maintainingHow Much Does Hybrid App Development Cost?Pros and Cons of Hybrid App DevelopmentFAQs about Hybrid App DevelopmentFinal Thoughts about Hybrid App Development What is Hybrid App Development? Hybrid app development refers to building a unified application using a single codebase that could function across multiple platforms, from Android and iOS to Windows and more. What is Hybrid App Development In contrast to native app development, which requires platform-specific programming languages for different operating systems (OS), hybrid app development utilizes a unified code base compatible with all OS. For further insights into the differences between native vs hybrid mobile app development, check out our article An ultimate guide to native app development for enterprises in 2024. Essentially, hybrid apps work like web apps but are installed on devices like native apps. Similar to web apps, developers typically create hybrid apps using HTML5, CSS, and JavaScript. The device’s browser engine then renders such languages and native APIs to interact with device-specific hardware. Prominent hybrid app examples are Gmail, Instagram, and Uber: Gmail utilizes JavaScript, AJAX, jQuery, and Vue.js for its front end. Instagram is developed using React Native. Uber employs Base, a web React UI framework, for the front end of its mobile apps. When to Develop Hybrid Apps? Now, the burning question of all is how to know if hybrid is the right choice for your business. Here are 5 scenarios where hybrid app development should be your next strategic move: When to Develop Hybrid Apps Multiple platform compatibility If your company aims to support multiple platforms like iOS and Android with minimal development effort, hybrid apps offer a compelling solution. They leverage a single codebase that operates across different OS, eliminating the need for separate development. Lack of specialized coding knowledge Unlike native apps that require proficiency in platform-specific languages, hybrid apps can be built with less specialized coding knowledge, making it easier to hire developers skilled in web technologies. Basic feature requirements Hybrid apps are sufficient if your app does not require advanced native features. Plus, even features that involve constant iteration like notifications, can be seamlessly integrated within hybrid apps using webviews, thereby simplifying the development process. Budget constraints Hybrid app development is cost-effective, particularly when compared to the expenses associated with developing and maintaining APIs for native apps. This approach helps businesses get native-like functionality within a limited budget. Speed trade-off While hybrid apps may be slower than native apps due to browser-based operations, they offer a balanced trade-off for rapid development and cross-platform compatibility. Therefore, they remain a viable option when speed isn’t a big concern to your business. Launch Your Hybrid Apps with LTS Group Today How to Build a Hybrid App? Creating hybrid apps means developers leverage both web technologies and native capabilities. Below is a detailed walkthrough of 8 fundamental steps in building a hybrid app: How to Build a Hybrid App Step 1. Planning the hybrid app In this planning phase, start by defining the hybrid app’s objectives, target audience, and key features.  Conducting comprehensive market research and competitor analysis plays an equally important role, helping your organization identify: industry trends, potential business opportunities rival apps’ strengths and weaknesses. The next sub-step to take is selecting suitable tech stacks for the hybrid mobile application. With the advantage of writing code once for the deployment on Android, iOS, and web versions, hybrid application development is already much more manageable. Below, we handpicked a list of the top 5 widely used hybrid app development frameworks: Flutter Introduced by Google, Flutter has rapidly gained popularity for its speed, reliability, and ability to create visually stunning UIs with flexible designs. For 3 consecutive years from 2021 to 2023, it was the most popular hybrid mobile framework, as reported by Statista report. Many major brands such as Amazon, Alibaba, BMW, and Toyota have leveraged Flutter for their applications. React Native Created by Facebook, React Native is favored for its speed, convenience, and cost-effectiveness. It supports the development of applications for large organizations like Uber, Skype, Bloomberg, and Instagram. Ionic Utilizing HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, Ionic offers built-in support for AngularJS, making it ideal for front-end development. It simplifies the creation of progressive web apps (PWAs) and provides premium UI design components. Xamarin Xamarin is known for its code reuse efficiency, allowing developers to reuse a substantial portion of their codebase on different platforms. However, it may lag behind in updates compared to Google and Apple, which can lead to compatibility issues. NativeScript NativeScript is specially designed for developers proficient in JavaScript, TypeScript, or Angular. Applications built with NativeScript deliver a native user experience on all mobile platforms. Step 2. Setting up the development environment The second phase revolves around setting up the development environment for the hybrid app, which necessitates several key tasks as follows: Installing necessary hybrid mobile app development tools and software: First, hybrid mobile app developers need to download their preferred frameworks, whether it’s Ionic, React Native, Xamarin, or Flutter. It’s also recommended that your team’s development efforts be streamlined with a single integrated development environment (IDE) like Visual Studio Code and IntelliJ IDEA. Configuring the development environment: Once the required technologies are installed, it’s time to configure the IDE and set up the software development kit (SDK). Setting up testing devices: Configuring testing devices, whether they’re physical or virtual, is the next important task. Step 3. Building app architecture  The success of an app hinges greatly on its architecture, which encompasses crucial elements such as code structure and data storage methods. A well-planned architecture ensures easier mobile app maintenance and future updates, which can be achieved through the following essential steps: Creating project structure: Simply establishing a project folder and organizing it with directories for HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and other essential resources. Setting up main HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files: Developing the foundational files that define the app’s structure and user interface. For example, CSS files handle styling, while HTML documents provide the framework for the app’s graphical elements. Integrating libraries and frameworks: Incorporating vital libraries and frameworks like Cordova and React Native to enable hybrid functionalities and integrate native features seamlessly. Step 4: Designing the user interface A poor mobile experience can deter 52% of users from engaging with a company. Therefore, creating an attractive and high-quality design is crucial for the application’s success. Every interface detail must be meticulously planned to ensure a delightful user experience. Creating visually appealing UI and UX elements: Great effort should be put into crafting aesthetically pleasing UI and UX by designing clear layouts, appropriate color schemes, and visually engaging elements to enhance the overall look and feel of the hybrid app. Implementing responsive design principles: Designers should employ responsive design techniques to create an optimal user experience across different devices and screen sizes. Using CSS frameworks for efficient styling: To expedite the styling process and boost productivity, your team can leverage CSS frameworks like Bulma, Materialize, and Bootstrap. These frameworks provide pre-designed themes and components that can be easily customized to meet the app’s design requirements. Step 5: Coding app functionalities With the app architecture and user interface established, the next step is coding to develop a high-performing, robust, and secure back end with desired functionalities. The duration of this stage varies based on the complexity and volume of tasks. And of course, implementing extensive and complex features takes more time; however, on average, it takes around 3 to 4 months to develop a prototype or MVP – a simplified version of the application containing only the core functionalities. Step 6: Testing and debugging Once functionalities are built, your team needs to test them to confirm the app looks and functions as intended. This step includes testing both the front end and back end, and addressing any issues that arise. Conducting usability and functional testing: To verify that the hybrid app works as planned and provides a smooth user experience, functional testing and usability testing come on the scene. Debugging common issues and errors: Developers must proactively review, identify, and fix issues and errors throughout the development and testing phases for a reliable, bug-free application. Optimizing app performance and responsiveness: App performance substantially contributes to a satisfactory user experience. Thus, try to prioritize script optimization, reduce load times, and minimize app size. Step 7: Deploying and publishing the app Before releasing the app, it must undergo final preparations to guarantee it meets all standards and requirements: Preparing the app for release: The app should undergo comprehensive testing, optimization, and final checks to make sure it’s ready for release. Apart from app feature assessment, your team has to stay compliant with the guidelines of Google Play Store or App Store and prepare all required assets and documentation. Registering for a developer account: To publish the app on Google Play Store and App Store, your team needs a developer account, which can be easily registered after providing necessary information, agreeing to terms and conditions, and submitting a one-time registration fee. Publishing the app: Once the developer profile is set up, the hybrid app is ready to be launched! Step 8: Monitoring and maintaining Monitoring and maintaining a hybrid mobile application encompasses several crucial activities to achieve continued success and user satisfaction: Implementing analytics to track user behavior: Many analytics tools can be integrated to monitor how users interact with the hybrid app, analyze usage patterns, and identify popular features. Gathering user feedback and resolving bug reports: Continuous improvement necessitates actively gathering user feedback and promptly addressing bug reports. By soliciting input and responding to issues, your team can boost app performance, identify user pain points, and prioritize new features. Carrying out regular app updates and improvements: Regular updates are essential to maintaining the app’s competitiveness and relevance. Based on user feedback and market trends, your team can consider adding new features to improve existing functionality and optimize performance. PRO TIP:  Streamline these 8 phases by partnering with a trusted hybrid app development company! To choose the right partner, factor in 4 crucial aspects including expertise, cost, post-launch services, and communication for a successful collaboration. Learn more: Mobile app development outsourcing in 2024: How to make it work On the lookout for a reputable company providing top-notch hybrid app development services? Look no further than LTS Group. With over 8 years of experience and a track record of delivering comprehensive software solutions, we specialize in creating and enhancing not just iOS and Android apps, but also hybrid apps. Rest assured that partnering with us gives your company access to a team of seasoned developers dedicated to delivering robust and efficient customized hybrid apps. Launch Your Hybrid Apps with LTS Group Today How Much Does Hybrid App Development Cost? Hybrid mobile app development cost varies greatly depending on the app’s complexity and features. Nevertheless, it generally proves more cost-effective than its native counterpart thanks to shared codebases across platforms. Here’s a quick look at the expense of building hybrid apps, categorized by their intricacy: How Much Does Hybrid App Development Cost Basic hybrid mobile apps: These apps are simpler in nature and quicker to develop, typically costing around $10,000. Medium-complex hybrid mobile apps: More sophisticated apps with advanced features may range from $10,000 to $50,000 and take 2-3 months to complete. Enterprise hybrid mobile apps: These applications are highly complex, requiring extensive features and customization. Development timelines can extend from 3 to 6 months, with costs ranging from $50,000 to $150,000. Pros and Cons of Hybrid App Development Hybrid mobile application development offers cost-effectiveness, shorter development times, and ease of scalability. However, it can face performance limitations, varied user experience on different platforms, and potential gaps in feature availability. For more information, refer to the table below: Pros of Hybrid App Development   Cons of Hybrid App Development Cross-platform compatibility: Hybrid apps run on multiple platforms with a single codebase, thereby saving time and resources. Performance limitations: Hybrid apps may be slower due to heavier code and may lack certain native features. Shorter development time: Reusing code across platforms reduces development time compared to native app development. Gap in user experience quality: Due to reliance on a single codebase, user experience may not be the same on different platforms, which can cause a lack of tailored feel in native apps. Easy scalability: Leveraging web technologies and a unified codebase makes scaling hybrid apps simpler and more efficient. Availability of features: Not all new features are universally supported in the hybrid version, so chances are some native functionalities may not be available in hybrid apps. Cost-effective: Lower development and maintenance costs make hybrid apps a budget-friendly choice. Test complexity: Testing hybrid apps across multiple platforms requires thorough testing to ensure compatibility and functionality, adding to development time and expenses. Ease of development: Simplified development process results from familiar web technologies like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and frameworks like Xamarin, Flutter, and React Native. Limited access to latest device features: Due to dependency on third-party frameworks, hybrid apps may fall behind regarding access to the newest device features and APIs introduced by platforms like Google and Apple. FAQs about Hybrid App Development What is hybrid application development? Hybrid app development refers to building a unified application using a single codebase that could function across multiple platforms, from Android and iOS to Windows and more. What are examples of hybrid apps? Gmail: Uses JavaScript, AJAX, jQuery, and Vue.js for its front end. Instagram: Built with React Native, focusing on image-centric social media interactions. Uber: Utilizes Base, a React UI framework, through its mobile web interface m.uber.com, providing a seamless webview experience on mobile devices. X: Employs Node.js, Express, and React Native in its front-end stack, functioning as a progressive web app (PWA) that offers enhanced UI performance through progressive loading of UI layers. How much does it cost to develop a hybrid app? Hybrid mobile apps cost from around $10,000 to $150,000+ depending on app complexity, features, development duration, and team expertise: Basic apps: Around $10,000. Medium-complex apps: $10,000 to $50,000. Enterprise apps:  $50,000 to $150,000 or more. Final Thoughts about Hybrid App Development Given that building mobile apps individually for each platform is costly and resource-intensive, hybrid app development stands as a compelling alternative, boasting cross-platform compatibility, cost efficiency, quicker time-to-market, and more. However, it’s essential to weigh development expenses, timeline, target audience, etc., before finalizing your company’s mobile development approach. Once the decision is made, the development process should commence: Start by planning the hybrid application, setting up the development environment, building the app architecture, designing the user interface, developing functionalities, testing and debugging, deploying and publishing, and finally, monitoring and maintaining the app. Eager to build your own hybrid app but struggling to find skilled developers? LTS Group is here to help! With a dedicated team of experienced professionals in hybrid app development, along with our competitive pricing, robust security measures, and expertise across various industries, we stand out in the crowded IT outsourcing landscape. Launch Your Hybrid Apps with LTS Group Today { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [{ "@type": "Question", "name": "What is hybrid application development?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Hybrid app development refers to building a unified application using a single codebase that could function across multiple platforms, from Android and iOS to Windows and more." } },{ "@type": "Question", "name": "What are examples of hybrid apps?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Gmail: Uses JavaScript, AJAX, jQuery, and Vue.js for its front end. Instagram: Built with React Native, focusing on image-centric social media interactions. Uber: Utilizes Base, a React UI framework, through its mobile web interface m.uber.com, providing a seamless webview experience on mobile devices. X: Employs Node.js, Express, and React Native in its front-end stack, functioning as a progressive web app (PWA) that offers enhanced UI performance through progressive loading of UI layers." } },{ "@type": "Question", "name": "How much does it cost to develop a hybrid app?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Hybrid mobile apps cost from around $10,000 to $150,000+ depending on app complexity, features, development duration, and team expertise: Basic apps: Around $10,000. Medium-complex apps: $10,000 to $50,000. Enterprise apps:  $50,000 to $150,000 or more." } }] }

LTS Group Signs MOU with Korea Virtual Reality Inc. to Foster a Strategic Technology Collaboration

Jul 4, 2024

4 mins read

LTS Group is proud to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Korea Virtual Reality Inc., a prominent Korean company specializing in 3D spatial data authoring technology and metaverse platform services. The MOU signing ceremony was held at the headquarters of Korea Virtual Reality Inc., attended by officials from both companies, marking the beginning of a promising partnership.   Table of Contents Toggle A Strategic CollaborationSynergizing Strengths for Global LeadershipA Future of Innovation and GrowthAbout Korea Virtual Reality Inc.About LTS Group A Strategic Collaboration This MOU signifies a strategic collaboration between LTS Group and Korea Virtual Reality Inc., aiming to leverage each other’s strengths and expertise. The two companies will work together in various fields such as 3D spatial data generation, 3D spatial data labeling for AI learning, and the development of metaverse and VR software. This partnership is poised to enhance the competitiveness of both companies in the global market and drive innovative technology development. The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Korea Virtual Reality Inc.   Synergizing Strengths for Global Leadership Korea Virtual Reality Inc. is renowned for its cutting-edge 3D spatial data generation authoring tools, while LTS Group brings extensive IT outsourcing capabilities to the table. By combining these strengths, both companies aim to reinforce their leadership in the global IT market. This collaboration is expected to yield significant advancements in AI, metaverse, and 3D spatial data labeling technologies. An authority from Korea Virtual Reality Inc. stated, “Cooperation with LTS Group will be an important opportunity to further develop our AI spatial data foundry technology and strengthen our position in the global market. We will continue to promote innovative technology development through close cooperation between the two companies.” Similarly, a representative from LTS Group commented, “This agreement with Korea Virtual Reality Inc. will be an important stepping stone for LTS Group to take a leap forward in the global IT outsourcing market. We expect to be able to provide higher satisfaction to customers in the AI era by combining the strengths of both companies.” A strategic collaboration between LTS Group and Korea Virtual Reality Inc.   A Future of Innovation and Growth With this MOU, LTS Group and Korea Virtual Reality Inc. are set to lead the way in innovation and growth in the global IT market. The collaboration is expected to expand into various fields, continuously driving technological advancements and delivering greater value to customers worldwide. Stay tuned for more updates as we embark on this transformative journey and witness the groundbreaking developments that emerge from this powerful partnership.   About Korea Virtual Reality Inc. Korea Virtual Reality Inc. is a pioneering company in the field of 3D spatial data authoring technology and metaverse platform services. With a commitment to innovation and excellence, Korea Virtual Reality Inc. continues to push the boundaries of technology, providing advanced solutions to customers around the globe.   About LTS Group LTS Group is a leading IT solutions provider, specializing in offering comprehensive IT outsourcing services to clients worldwide. With a strong focus on innovation and quality, LTS Group is dedicated to delivering cutting-edge technology solutions that meet the evolving needs of the global market. — Website: https://ltsgroup.tech/  Tel: (+84) 96-238-7474 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lts-group-vietnam/  

LTS Group Achieves ISO 9001:2015 Certification: A Commitment to Quality and Excellence

Jun 27, 2024

We at LTS Group are thrilled to announce that we have officially achieved ISO 9001:2015 certification! This internationally recognized standard signifies our unwavering commitment to providing top-tier services and exceeding client expectations. But what exactly does ISO 9001:2015 mean, and why is it so important? Table of Contents Toggle What is ISO 9001:2015?Why is ISO 9001:2015 Important?LTS Group: Your Trusted Partner for IT Outsourcing SuccessLooking Ahead What is ISO 9001:2015? ISO 9001:2015 is the world’s most widely recognized quality management system (QMS) standard. It outlines a set of guidelines and best practices for businesses of all sizes to implement a framework for continuous improvement. By adhering to these principles, organizations can ensure their processes are efficient, effective, and aligned with delivering exceptional customer satisfaction. Why is ISO 9001:2015 Important? Earning ISO 9001:2015 certification demonstrates several key advantages for LTS Group and our valued clients: Enhanced quality: The robust framework ensures consistent quality across all our services. We meticulously evaluate and refine our processes to eliminate errors and deliver exceptional results every time. Increased efficiency: Streamlined operations and optimized workflows lead to improved efficiency. This translates to faster turnaround times and cost-effective solutions for our clients. Improved client satisfaction: A core tenet of ISO 9001:2015 is a focus on client needs and expectations. By prioritizing client satisfaction throughout our processes, we ensure a truly exceptional experience. Boosted credibility: Obtaining ISO 9001:2015 certification positions LTS Group as a leader in the industry. It signifies our commitment to excellence and inspires trust and confidence from our clients and partners. LTS Group: Your Trusted Partner for IT Outsourcing Success Achieving ISO 9001:2015 certification is not a one-time accomplishment; it’s an ongoing commitment to quality. We at LTS Group are dedicated to continually refining our processes, upholding the highest standards, and exceeding your expectations. We are confident that this certification will further propel us in delivering exceptional services and building long-term, successful partnerships with our valued clients. LTS Group Achieves ISO 9001:2015 Certification: A Commitment to Quality and Excellence Looking Ahead As we celebrate this significant achievement, we remain focused on our goal of continuous improvement. The ISO 9001:2015 certification is not the end of our journey but a stepping stone towards even greater heights. We will continue to refine our processes, invest in our people, and strive to exceed the expectations of our clients and stakeholders. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our dedicated team, whose hard work and commitment have made this achievement possible. We also thank our clients for their trust and support, which drive us to maintain the highest standards of quality and service. LTS Group looks forward to a future of sustained excellence and growth, confident that our ISO 9001:2015 certification will pave the way for new opportunities and successes. ___ Website: https://ltsgroup.tech/  Tel: (+84) 96-238-7474 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lts-group-vietnam/

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Software Development Plan Template

What is a Software Development Plan?

A software development plan outlines how a software product will be created, developed, and launched. It outlines the timeline, goals, stakeholders, resources, and budget needed to successfully deliver a software product. The plan should also include a roadmap of the development process and any risks associated with it.

What's included in this Software Development Plan template?

• 3 focus areas
• 6 objectives

Each focus area has its own objectives, projects, and KPIs to ensure that the strategy is comprehensive and effective.

Who is the Software Development Plan template for?

This Software Development Plan template is designed for software development teams that need a structured approach to creating, developing, and launching software products. This template provides a framework for teams to create a plan that outlines the timeline, goals, stakeholders, resources, and budgets needed to successfully deliver a software product.

1. Define clear examples of your focus areas

When creating a Software Development Plan, it is important to first define the focus areas that you want to address. Focus areas are the major categories of work that need to be completed for the software product to be successful. For example, a focus area could be Software Product Development, Product Documentation, or Security. Identifying and defining your focus areas will help you create a plan that is tailored to your specific project needs.

2. Think about the objectives that could fall under that focus area

Once you have identified and defined your focus areas, you should then think about the objectives that could fall under each focus area. Objectives are the specific goals that need to be accomplished in order to reach the overall goal of the software product. Examples of some objectives for the focus area of Software Product Development could be: Streamline development process, and Enhance Software Quality.

3. Set measurable targets (KPIs) to tackle the objective

Once you have identified the objectives that need to be accomplished, it is important to set measurable targets (KPIs) to tackle each objective. KPIs are measurable targets that help you track progress towards the objectives. An example of a KPI for the focus area of Software Product Development could be: Reduce time to market.

4. Implement related projects to achieve the KPIs

Once you have identified the KPIs, you should then implement related projects to achieve those KPIs. Projects (or actions) are the steps that need to be taken to achieve the KPIs. An example of a project related to Software Product Development could be: Implement Agile methodology.

5. Utilize Cascade Strategy Execution Platform to see faster results from your strategy

Cascade Strategy Execution Platform is the perfect tool to help you create, execute and track your Software Development Plan. The platform provides an easy-to-use interface that allows you to quickly create your plan and track progress towards your objectives. It also provides powerful analytics to help you identify opportunities for improvement and optimize your plan for faster results.

Having a great business idea and having the willingness and ability to jump into the entrepreneurial or intrapreneurial journey are the stepping stones to a successful journey. Next, you will develop expertise on how to write a business plan for a tech startup step by step.

You may like to start a business venture on your own or start a new business initiative within the firm that you work for. Whatever the case may be; you need to start your journey by writing a tech startup business plan proposal.

Like they say, a job well begun is half done. So, knowing how to write a well thought out business plan wins half the battle for you.

You also need to follow the “Keep it Simple, Silly” doctrine and come up with a simple business plan. Following a step-by-step business plan template, in this case, helps.

Sounds interesting? Let’s start the journey.

How do you begin a tech startup business plan?

To begin a tech startup business plan, you need to ask yourself the following questions:

“What to do?” “How to do it?” “When to do it?” and ” Who will do it?”

These questions will help in starting to plan how to take your business idea to executable action. Planning will help you bridge the gap between where you are right now and where you want to reach, concerning your business idea.

What are the 5 elements of a tech startup business plan?

There is no sacrosanct format of a good business plan or a business plan pdf, and also the ingredients of a business plan proposal would depend on your experience in business and knowledge in that particular field. 

However, a good startup business plan consists of the following:

1. Your background 

In case you have partners, their background too

2. Description of the business idea

It should consist of Utility of the Product / Service and the Unique Selling Proposition, i.e., USP 

3. Production plan 

In case of a product, how would you produce the product, in case of a service, how will you deliver the service

4. Operational plan

How would you smoothly coordinate the day to day work, how would you ensure the desired quality, where would you set up your factory/office, at what price will you sell

5. Organizational plan

This contains details of how many people you will employ to produce or deliver the service, what your marketing set up will be, who will manage your accounting and liaison with the various stakeholders and authorities

6. Financial plan

Now we come to an essential part of your business plan, where you need to spend considerable time and effort. It is the Financial Plan .

Your financial plan should spell out the investment required for the business. Where would the funds come from, and when are the funds needed? How much cash is needed to carry on day to day operations?

This section would also describe the economic feasibility of the business. This would include the revenue forecast for the next year, or three years or even further. 

How do you write a one-page business plan for a tech startup?

You need an elaborate plan to be successful in your business. However, at the same time, you also need to keep in mind that the business plan is needed for the potential investor to consider investing in your business. 

Given the lack of time the potential investor has, you need to make a one-page business plan which has a concise description of your plans but gives details on why she/he should invest in your business. It should motivate the potential investor to spend time and read a more elaborate business plan.

The one-page business plan is also your means of communication with the external stakeholders like the government, the public at large when you need to do any statutory filing of information of the company or present in various conferences. 

You may also like to term this one-page plan as a written “elevator pitch.”

  You may like to start a business venture on your own or start a new business initiative within the firm that you work for. Whatever the case may be; you need to start your journey by writing a tech startup business plan proposal.

  Like they say, a job well begun is half done. So, knowing how to write a well thought out business plan wins half the battle for you.

  You also need to follow the “Keep it Simple, Silly” doctrine and come up with a simple business plan. Following a step-by-step business plan template, in this case, helps.

What does a tech startup business plan consist of?

A startup business plan consists of an internal roadmap elaborating on the most important aspects of your business (i.e., the background, the production, operational, organizational, and financial aspects). 

At the same time, it consists of the purpose, and the financial returns your business will generate, which acts as a written marketing document for external stakeholders.  

However, given the uncertainties in modern times, business plans are increasingly focusing on the risks, and the fall back plans that would be in place if the original plan fails.  

A significant point that gives confidence to the investor about the long term viability of the business plan is the interest that the target market will show in the product or service. So, it is worthwhile to add as a Business plan annexure pdf, any primary research done by a reputed marketing agency of the market potential of the product or service.

When the business plan involves a new product or service, it is effortless to fall into the trap of looking at the product from your point of view and taking the market for granted. What is required at this stage is to focus exclusively on how you conceptualized the idea and how you are planning to bring the concept to execution.

Researchers from MIT suggested successful business plan examples where users were invited to pre-test the products or services. Their feedback is of interest to the investor and needs to be included in your startup business plan.

8 Steps to Create a Business Plan for Your Tech Startup

Step 1: executive summary.

The first step in writing a startup business plan for your new tech business is to create an executive summary.

The executive summary doesn’t need to be lengthy and tedious; around two to three pages should suffice.

Although a short document, the executive summary one of the most important elements of your business plan.

Your executive summary should be concise and clear as it should be successful in communicating everything about your business.

Some investors might  only  ask for your executive summary — so be sure to craft it well and pepper it with all the right bits of information. you’ll want to ensure it can stand on its own.

Stick to the following:

1. Mission Statement:  In one crisp paragraph, explain the mission of your business and what you want to accomplish.

2. General Company Information:  Next, include general information like when your business was formed, the name of the other founders, their roles, the number of employees, office locations, and so on.

3. Visual Highlights:  Include graphs and charts pertaining to any key milestones of the business or any growth you’ve seen since starting the business.

4. Products and Services:  Without getting overly passionate or verbose, briefly describe your product, the technology that powers it, and your target customer base.

5. Financial Information:  If you’re looking for  startup fundraising , include your funding goals. You can also include any information on previous loans or about banks or lenders you’ve worked with before.

6. Future plans:  Don’t forget to include where you plan on taking your business in the future.

Pro tip: Write your executive summary after you’ve completed creating your business plan.

This way you’ll have all your facts in place and all your information and details sorted so you will be better equipped to summarize them.

Step 2: Company Overview

Many entrepreneurs confuse the company overview with the executive summary. However, there is a stark difference between the two.

The company overview is a more detailed top-level view of the structure of your tech business and what you do.

Here’s how you can go about drafting your startup overview:

1. Begin your company overview section by describing what your business specializes in and the technology behind it. This part of the company overview is intended to give readers and investors a general idea of your business.

2. Next, proceed to explain the nature of the industry and marketplace.

3. Lay out the legal structure of your business and provide the ownership structure.

Step 3: Market Analysis

The next step along the process of creating your startup business plan is to perform in-depth research and analysis of your niche, target market, and primary competitors.

This is the first part of your startup business plan where you dive into the details.

Your market analysis will give readers and investors enough proof about the level of understanding you have about the dynamics of your industry.

Your market analysis should include the following sections:

1. Industry Description:  Start by including a detailed view of your industry. How big is it? How much has it grown in the past few years? What are its growth predictions from industry experts? Who are your competitors? How have they performed? And so on.

2. Target Market Details:  Dive into the details of your target market . And include your target market’s characteristics and target market size and growth.

3. Your Market Share Potential:  Chart out what your market share could look like along with how much market share you expect to gain.

4. Market Pricing:  Include an estimated cost of your products and how you will distribute them.

5. Challenges:  Don’t shy away from including any challenges that you may across. This could be legal issues to shifting technologies to capital issues to lack of talented or skilled human resources.

6. Competitor Research:  Study your competitors by analyzing their strengths, market share, weaknesses, challenges they pose to you, and so on.

Step 4: Business Organization

This next section of your startup business plan provides insights and information on your tech business’s management structure clearly defining and explaining what everyone does.

You will also have to go a step further to include everyone’s business background and past experiences.

Here’s what you need to break down:

1. Organizational Structure: Start this section by creating an organizational chart that depicts how your business is structured.

2. Ownership Structure:  Although you’ll repeat this information in your company overview, you have the liberty to go in-depth allowing you to talk about the ownership structure of your company, who owns how much, and so on.

3. Background of Owners:  Categorically explain the background of your team. This includes information on directors, senior management members, and managers.

4. Talent Requirement:  Clearly make a list of all hiring needs.

Step 5: Products and Services

This section of your startup business plan is all about laying out the details and plans for positioning your product, the utility it provides, the technology behind it, and so on.

For instance, if you are offering Internet of Things (IoT) based solutions or Artificial Intelligence-powered services, then give details about how these products work and how you wish to promote and sell it.

Here’s exactly what this section should include:

1. General Description:  Highlight the USP of your product or service and the value it provides to potential customers.

2. Status of products:  Paint an honest picture of the status of your product. Is your product in the idea stage? Is it already selling? Or is it ready to go to market?

3. Product goals:  If you are still in the ideation phase, map out a journey that talks about how you plan to launch the product and bring it to life. Include details on the research and development activities required. You can also include new versions or new products or any new features you wish to include in the future.

4. Intellectual property:  As a tech business, it is imperative to have proprietary intellectual property . Make mention of this and any other patent or trademark that you own or are in the process of owning.

5. Sourcing and fulfillment:  If you are dependent on third-party vendors to fulfill or your product or service creation, mention it here.

This section is crucial for your startup business plan as it defines everything about your products and services.

It will work as a bible for product managers and for you in the development stages and go to market phase.

Step 6: Marketing and Sales Plan

Once you’ve explained everything about your product, it’s time to delve into explaining how you are going to go about marketing and selling your product or service.

When it comes to marketing, this is what this section should look like:

1. Positioning:  This first part of your marketing plan should talk about how you’re positioning your business and products. What price bracket are you targeting? Are you offering any free service? What guarantees and warranties are you offering? Answering these questions and more will help you determine where you are positioning your products and services.

2. Promotion:  This part involves explaining marketing channels and plans you have for advertising your product, PR strategies, SEO plans, content marketing practices, social media marketing, etc.

Next, your sales plan:

1. Salesforce:  How do you plan to sell your product? Do you need a sales force? How big a team do you need? Who will train your sales team? These parameters need to be addressed in your sales plan.

2. Selling strategy:  Give an overview of how you will sell your product or service. Define the process you will follow as a technology business. Will you start with cold-calling potential customers? Or attending events? Or appointing channel partners? Clearly describe what your sales funnel should look like.

Step 7: Financial Plan and Projections

This is a supremely important section of your business plan.

Investors and VCs will want to look at your financial plans and projections before parting with their money.

Ideally, this section uses financial data from past performances or forecasts.

Include the following as part of your financial plan:

1. Income statements

2. Cash flow statements

3. Balance sheets

Additionally, if applicable, include the accounts of receivable statements, accounts of payable statements, and details or documents of debts.

Ideally, your financial projections should be supported either by past performances or future projections and estimations.

Include statements of projected income, cash flow forecasts, forecasted balance statements, capital expenditure budgets, and miscellaneous expenses.

Your startup business plan should include projections for the first year of business but should include a vision for the coming 3 to 5 years.

Step 8: Appendix

The appendix should be included towards the end of your business plan. This section includes all additional information that you didn’t include in the sections above of your business plan.

Any data, statistics, strategic points, charts, footnotes, or further explanations that you think are necessary to be included as part of your startup business plan but has been skipped should be included here.

As an entrepreneur or founder, you can also consider including your own resume and resumes of other founders or senior management team members.

Ideally, the appendix should begin with a table of contents that categorically breaks down your business plan into relevant, followed by the additional information that corresponds to each section.

199 Resources for Startup Business Plan Templates, Business Plan Examples, and Business Plan Samples

Final Thoughts

Although creating a startup business plan seems daunting and arduous, when you break it down into a step by step process, it gets easy to create one.

And with these 8 steps, you can create a killer tech business plan for your tech startup that will help you catapult to success and leave investors mesmerized.

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Software Development Plan (SDP): What It Is, Benefits, and How to Create One

Table of Contents

Software development planning is critical to successful project execution. An effective SDP outlines project goals, resources, timelines, tasks, and potential challenges. This keeps the entire team in alignment and working efficiently.

Creating and implementing an effective SDP requires technical expertise, project management skills, and an understanding of project requirements. Let’s dive into the nuances of how to create an SDP.

What Is a Software Development Plan?

An SDP is a comprehensive roadmap that guides the entire process of creating, designing, testing, and delivering a software product. It details the project scope, required software features, project timelines, and tasks the team needs to complete. Additionally, an SDP addresses potential risks that might come up during development and how the project team would manage them, plus the development methodologies and software tools they will use.

How It Benefits Your Dev Team

An SDP benefits a development team by providing defined project goals, roles, responsibilities, and timelines. This helps team members collaborate more effectively to create a software development project, reduce confusion, and streamline everyone’s efforts.

An SDP also increases efficiency by breaking down how to create a software development plan into manageable phases and tasks. Each team member understands their contribution and the overall project trajectory, enabling them to work more productively . Additionally, a software project plan facilitates effective communication between the team and stakeholders by aligning everyone's expectations and objectives and optimizing development workflow . 

Finally, an SDP benefits your dev team by serving as a benchmark for measuring project progress. This helps the project stay on schedule and budget.

Objectives of Software Development Planning

The main objective of an SDP is the successful creation of the desired software product. A software project management plan does this by outlining desired outcomes and what problems the team will solve with the software product. Specific objectives include: 

• Defining clear project goals
• Specifying the scope of the software project
• Assigning roles and responsibilities to team members
• Establishing a well-structured project timeline with phases and milestones
• Identifying potential risks and challenges in the development process
• Outlining strategies for mitigating identified risks
• Ensuring efficient resource allocation and utilization
• Serving as a reference guide for the team

How to Write a Software Development Plan

Setting a clear course from the outset is key. That's where understanding how to write a software development project plan comes in. Let’s explore the nine steps in writing an SDP below.

1. Define Project Scope & Objectives

Begin by clearly defining the project's scope and outlining the specific objectives you aim to achieve. This involves understanding the software’s features and functionalities, the goals of software developers, and the project’s ultimate goals. Clearly defining the scope sets the foundation for the entire plan, ensuring everyone understands the project's boundaries and desired outcomes. 

This step involves project managers, stakeholders, and key decision-makers to align expectations and establish a shared vision for the project.

2. Allocate Resources & Set Timelines

Determine the resources the project requires , including personnel, tools, and technologies. Set realistic timelines for each development phase, considering factors like task complexity and dependencies. Allocating resources and establishing timelines provides a structured framework that helps manage expectations and ensures efficient resource utilization. 

This step involves project managers, team leads , and resource managers to allocate personnel and plan the project's timeline.

3. Assign Team Roles & Responsibilities

Assign tasks based on skills and expertise and define the hierarchy of decision-making. Assigning roles and responsibilities ensures accountability, effective collaboration, and a clear understanding of who is responsible for what. 

This step involves project managers, team leads, and individual team members to ensure everyone knows their role in the project.

4. Identify & Mitigate Potential Risks

Identify potential risks and challenges that could impact the project's progress and success. Develop strategies to mitigate these risks, outlining preventive measures and contingency plans. Addressing risks upfront helps proactively manage challenges and reduce the impact of unexpected hurdles. 

This step involves risk managers, project managers, and subject matter experts who can assess potential risks and provide insights into mitigation strategies.

5. Document Project Methodology & Tools

Detail the methodologies, development frameworks, tools, and technologies the team will use. This ensures a consistent development approach and helps align the team's efforts.

This step involves technical leads, architects, and developers who are well-versed in the relevant tools and methodologies, such as Agile and Scrum.

6. Create a Clear Communication Plan

Develop a communication plan that lays out how the team will share information. Define the frequency and modes of communication, ensuring everyone remains informed and aligned throughout the project lifecycle.

This step involves project managers, communication coordinators, and team members responsible for disseminating information.

7. Document Change Management Process

Outline the process of management and approval for changes to the project scope, objectives, or timelines. Define the process for requesting, evaluating, and implementing changes, ensuring that alterations are well-considered and have minimal disruptive impact. This promotes controlled adjustments and prevents scope creep. 

This step involves project managers and decision-makers responsible for approving changes.

8. Create a Testing & Quality Assurance Strategy

Develop testing and quality assurance processes, specifying testing methodologies, tools, and criteria for successful testing completion. A well-defined testing strategy ensures the software meets the required standards before deployment. 

This step involves quality assurance teams, testing leads, and developers who contribute to creating a robust testing plan.

9. Set Up a Monitoring & Evaluation Framework

Define how you will monitor the software's performance post-deployment. Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics your team will track to assess the software's success and user satisfaction.

This step involves project managers, data analysts, and performance monitoring teams who establish the metrics and mechanisms for ongoing evaluation.

Software Development Plan Template

A software development template helps streamline and expedite the creation of an SDP. By providing a pre-structured framework, a template saves you time and effort. A software development process planning template offers a consistent format that prompts you to cover essential aspects, ensuring you don’t overlook any crucial details. Let’s look at a software project planning template below.

Project Overview

Provide a concise introduction to the project, outlining its purpose, objectives, and scope. This step sets the stage for the entire plan, ensuring a clear understanding of the project's context.

Scope & Objectives

Define the software’s features, functionalities, and goals. Clearly articulate what the software will achieve, ensuring alignment among team members and stakeholders.

Resources & Timeline

Identify the necessary resources, including personnel, tools, and technologies. Set realistic timelines for each development phase, considering task complexity and dependencies.

Roles & Responsibilities

Assign roles and responsibilities to team members based on their skills and expertise. Define who is responsible for each aspect of the project, fostering accountability and effective collaboration.

Dependencies

Outline the interrelationships between various project tasks. Highlight tasks that rely on the completion of others, ensuring a clear understanding of the sequence of activities and facilitating smooth project progression.

Risk Management

Identify potential risks and challenges that could impact the project. Develop strategies to mitigate these risks, ensuring proactive management and minimizing potential disruptions.

Methodologies & Tools

Detail the methodologies, frameworks, tools, and technologies the team will use during development. This section ensures a consistent approach and aligns team efforts.

Communication Plan

Define how you will share information among team members, stakeholders, and relevant parties. Specify communication frequency and modes to ensure transparency and effective coordination.

Change Management Process

Outline how the team will manage and approve any project scope, objectives, or timelines changes. This process prevents scope creep and ensures controlled adjustments.

Testing & Quality Assurance Strategy

Lay out your strategy for testing the software's functionality, performance, and reliability. Specify testing methodologies, tools, and criteria to ensure high-quality deliverables.

Monitoring & Evaluation Framework

Define how to monitor the software's performance post-deployment. Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to assess ongoing success and user satisfaction.

Outline the financial resources required for the project's successful execution. Detail anticipated expenses related to personnel, tools, technologies, infrastructure, and any other development costs .

What to Avoid in Your SDP

When you’re writing your SDP, make sure to avoid:

• Including ambiguous or vague language that could lead to misinterpretation
• Setting unrealistic timelines, which could cause rushed development or missed deadlines
• Omitting potential risks and challenges, change management processes, and post-deployment KPIs

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A well-structured SDP ensures alignment, clear communication, and effective project management. If you're looking for a seamless and efficient way to execute your plan, Revelo can help. We specialize in connecting businesses with highly skilled developers who are not only time zone aligned but rigorously vetted for technical expertise, soft skills, and English proficiency. 

Revelo ensures a hassle-free hiring process with a comprehensive suite of services ranging from onboarding, payroll, benefits administration, taxes, and local compliance. Our ongoing support guarantees developers remain engaged and committed throughout their tenure with your company. Contact Revelo to gain access to top talent and enhance your software development journey.

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Free Software Project Plan Templates

By Kate Eby | November 7, 2022

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In this article, you’ll find the most useful free software project plan templates for software project managers, Scrum masters, Agile team members, business systems analysts, QA managers, and others. 

On this page, you'll find many helpful software project plan templates, including a software development project plan template , a software deployment project plan template , an Agile software development project plan template , and a software rollout and implementation plan template , among others. Plus, find tips for using software project plan templates .

Simple Software Project Plan Template 

Download a Simple Software Project Plan Template for  Excel | Microsoft Word | Google Sheets

This simple software project plan template helps you successfully execute software development and offers you a task-based guide for future software project planning. Enter your software project’s name, main deliverable(s), scope-of-work statement, project manager, and start and end dates. The template comes pre-built with sprint-by-sprint swimlanes under which you can put your project’s primary tasks. For each task, assign a software team member, set a due date, document the status, and track the percentage toward completion. 

For more project plan templates and resources, see this article on project plan templates in Microsoft Word .

Software Development Project Plan Template

Download a Software Development Project Plan Template for  Excel | Google Sheets

Master your software project planning with this comprehensive software development project plan template that includes a Gantt chart. This sprint-by-sprint software project planning template provides the following: a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) column, so you can assign a unique number to each task; a T ask Owner column, so you can assign individual tasks to specific team members; an Estimated Work in Hours column; and a Due Date column. The Gantt chart offers a visual timeline of each sprint’s tasks and progress, so you can track them by week or by sprint. 

A unique burndown chart displays the amount of work remaining and completed for each sprint, so it’s clear, at a glance, whether or not your team can complete a given sprint’s tasks on time.

Software Deployment Project Plan Template

Download a Software Deployment Project Plan Template for  Excel | Google Sheets

Use this software deployment project plan template to ensure that your project deliverables are on track for completion. You can utilize the template as an Agile or Waterfall tool, depending on which methodology suits your software project requirements. For each task, enter story points, the status (i.e., Planned, Ongoing, Released ), and the deployment due date. An At Risk column allows you to check any task that might not be completed by the deployment due date.

Agile Software Development Project Plan Template

Download an Agile Software Development Project Plan Template for  Excel | Google Sheets  

This all-inclusive Agile software development project plan template offers everything you need to plan a successful Agile software project. Sprint and task-specific swimlanes guide you through the process of accounting for every feature and component that you must complete by the end of a sprint or by the conclusion of the overall project. Include story points for each sprint’s feature and task, so you can weight these factors adequately and then accurately determine how relevant each deliverable is to project success. 

An overall progress field helps you keep tabs on the percentage of the project’s completion. A Gantt chart provides a horizontal, color-coded bar graph of your sprints, so you can track the individual progress of each one.

Software Rollout and Implementation Plan Template

Download a Software Rollout and Implementation Plan Template for  Microsoft Word | Google Docs  

Designed to account for every element of a software rollout, including its successful implementation, this template provides instructive explanations of each step of the software delivery process. In the template’s Purpose section, describe the reason for the software rollout plan, and identify the system that you and your team will implement. Use this template to account for everything in your software project, including its assumptions and constraints, description of implementation, points of contact, implementation schedule, security and privacy, performance monitoring, documentation, acceptance criteria, and more.

Software Migration Plan Template

Download a Software Migration Plan Template for Excel | Google Sheets | Smartsheet

This software migration plan template offers you the high-level overview you need when you’re planning a major software migration. The template includes built-in software migration-specific tasks, such as defining the opportunity, evaluating the potential risks, and more. Under each task, you can choose from a dropdown menu of subtasks, such as Identify Needed Resources, Identify Operating Costs, or Review Implementation Strategy . 

The related Checklist Prior to Migration Project Launch template below helps you confirm that you’ve accounted for all your software migration plan’s components, so you can rest assured that your migration project goes off without a hitch.

Checklist Prior to Migration Project Launch

Download the Migration Planning Checklist Template

Microsoft Word | Adobe PDF

Check out these free IT project plan templates and resources to help ensure that your IT team is on track.

What Is a Software Project Plan Template?

A software project plan template provides a comprehensive framework that allows you and your software team to accurately document, anticipate, list, and monitor all stages of your software project — thus, keeping your deliverables on track for completion. 

Successful project status report templates and dashboards provide instant insight into project progress, and they clearly show which project components are on track, at potential risk, or creating roadblocks. A customizable template enables you to modify your document to fit your needs, while also offering default text to help you implement and monitor your project. Though project status template types vary, they include the following universal sections: 

• Project Name: Enter the name of your software project, so you can easily identify it and distinguish it from your other software projects. 
• Project Manager: List the name of the project manager who is primarily responsible for making sure that the team completes all software project tasks and successfully delivers the project. 
• Project Deliverable: Describe the software project’s primary deliverable so that the focus of the project plan is clear. 
• Scope Statement: Define the project’s scope, specifying what is out of scope.  
• Start/End Dates: Enter the software project’s start and end dates. 
• Task Name: Name each project task. 
• Assignee: List the name of the project team member who is responsible for completing a particular task. 
• Status: Select the status of each task from the dropdown menu (i.e., Not Started, On Hold, In Progress, Overdue, or Complete ). 
• Overall Progress: Review the combined percentage-of-completion progress for all tasks in the sprint, while also noting the progress of each individual task. 
• Work Breakdown Structure: Enter the unique work breakdown structure ID to assign a exclusive number to each task.

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The Smartsheet platform makes it easy to plan, capture, manage, and report on work from anywhere, helping your team be more effective and get more done. Report on key metrics and get real-time visibility into work as it happens with roll-up reports, dashboards, and automated workflows built to keep your team connected and informed.

When teams have clarity into the work getting done, there’s no telling how much more they can accomplish in the same amount of time. Try Smartsheet for free, today.

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Top 10 Software Development Roadmap Templates with Samples and Examples

Saahil Walia

Software development is creating automated programs to perform specific tasks or activities. It comprises coding, designing, testing, and data maintenance to meet corporate needs. A software development roadmap is a well-thought-out plan that shares a software project's goals, timeline, and critical milestones. It helps team members and investors to understand the purpose of creating a program. Besides this, it also acts as a roadmap for business development to boost productivity and increase client satisfaction.

Discover the best tools to showcase your work effectively! Access our essential software development portfolio templates featuring real examples and samples. Download here and get started.

Software development is valuable for corporations because it allows them to become familiar with the technology and find solutions in real time. Moreover, investing in application development helps to ensure that business operations run smoothly and that the automation process is in place. It also gives traders a chance to gain a competitive advantage by delivering and meeting the market's needs. Creating a structured roadmap for software development gives businesses an upper hand in every possible way; it is significant for them to ensure success.

Streamline your workflow with the Top 7 Agile Software Development Project Plan Templates with Samples and Examples. Download here.

SlideTeam's presentation layouts are invaluable in highlighting the software development roadmap. These PowerPoint Slides help you professionally convey your goals, timeline, and milestones in the development process. Use these to bring clarity to your software development roadmap presentations.

Template 1: Six Months Software Development Product Roadmap Template

This PPT slide showcases an extensive six-month software development product roadmap. The presentation visually highlights milestones such as the community site beta, android mobile app launch, iOS mobile app launch, US web store launch, and holiday blackout. Moreover, this PowerPoint design also focuses on self-serve features involving password reset assistance, language localization, and reward. It is a perfect tool for software developers and IT project managers.

Template 2: Half-Yearly Software Development Product Roadmap Template

This presentation design features a half-yearly software development roadmap. It outlines milestones like the community site beta, Android and iOS mobile app launch, US web store launch, and holiday blackout. This slide helps IT project managers, software developers, and business analysts with the complete software development process. Download now.

Template 3: IT Department Quarterly Roadmap for Software Development

This PPT Layout delineates an IT department's quarterly roadmap for software development. It highlights vital functionalities that help you understand the concepts effectively. The presentation design details user interface (UI) tasks such as Java Script creation, SQL database development, and iterative UI improvements. Furthermore, it shares information on application programming interfaces, storage, and other service integrations. 

Template 4: Five Years Agile Software Development Team Roadmap with Code Review

Use this PPT framework to demonstrate a five-year agile software development team roadmap. It strongly emphasizes team responsibility year by year. The presentation design shows that Team 1 focuses on customer interviews, demo versions, and feature enhancements across the year. Team 2 focuses on code review, admin console, and ticketing system. Similarly, team 3 works on bootstrap upgradation and design iteration. Download now and save it for your next presentation.

Template 5: Six Months Agile Software Development Roadmap with Construction Iterations

This presentation visualizes a six-month agile software development roadmap with construction timelines. It highlights the journey from concept to retirement, each month dedicated to a specific task. The PPT layout depicts that the first month is for concept exploration, the second is for inception, the third is for construction iterations, the fourth is for transitions, the fifth is for production, and the last is for retirement. Use this presentation diagram to add value to your message.

Template 6: Five Years Agile Software Development Roadmap

This PowerPoint Diagram displays a five-year agile software development roadmap. It covers critical areas such as design/UX, operations, and mobile and web app development. Use it as a roadmap for better user experience, streamlining operations, and developing strong web and mobile applications. This PowerPoint is helpful for agile project managers, UX/UI designers, and IT operations managers.

Template 7: 6 Months Software Application Development Roadmap

This PPT summarizes a six-month software development roadmap. It focuses on critical areas like UX/UI, web development, and integrations. The PowerPoint design shows a six-month roadmap for ensuring the desired results. 

Template 8: Five-Yearly Software Application Development Roadmap

Use this PowerPoint Presentation to exhibit a five-year plan for software application development. It outlines a list of tasks for each year. It is helpful for quality audit testers, software developers, UX/UI designers, and product owners.

Template 9: Five-Yearly Software Development and Configuration Roadmap

This PowerPoint framework shows a five-year roadmap for software application development and configuration. The presentation slide emphasized year-on-year planning. In the first year, it is essential to understand the requirements and then work on the design. Next, it is time for implementation, testing, and verification. The final year is for release and maintenance. Use this presentation to ensure a smooth development process, ultimately leading to success.

Template 10: Six-Months Software Development and Deployment Roadmap

This PPT graphic demonstrates a six-month software development and deployment roadmap. It covers a six-month timeline to show how to ensure success in application development. The presentation slide covers steps like request for software development, required configuration, design and development, testing and debugging, and integration. Download now.

Charting The Future with Software Roadmaps

Our presentation designs provide a great platform to showcase software development-related concepts. Whether you are sharing an overview of the stages of software development with your team or giving knowledge to your stakeholders about its significance in business development, you can ensure you achieve your objective. 

Unlock growth potential with Top 7 Business Development Roadmap Templates with Samples and Examples. Ideal for strategic planning and execution! Click here to download.

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IT and Software Business Plan Templates in PDF

Tracking Your Inventory Has Never Been Made Easy When You Use The Free Templates That You Can Browse On By The Template.Net Website. The Templates Can Be Easily Edited Through The Website, Downloaded In The File Formats Available, And Printable. In The Templates, It Can Look Like A One-Page Business Startup Plan, Powerpoint Presentations, Sample Software Developments Words.

• IT and Software
• IT and Software Accounting
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Are you an IT expert seeking to create your own tech company? It’s not an easy feat to accomplish. Business plans guide on the services you will be providing, your marketing schemes, and your company’s financial movement. It takes effort to create the report from scratch, especially if you don’t have any experience making one. Template.net eases out your paperwork with sample business plans made for software and IT companies. Each template contains professionally written content and headers that are fully editable on Template.net’s online editor platform. 

When you browse through the collection of ready-made professional business plans, you can find content specifically tailored to website development, computer software, and IT marketing. The samples provide necessary sections, such as the executive summary, target market, and SWOT analysis, to organize your proposals neatly. 

Create your IT and software business plan with Template.net’s free customizable samples. Replace the content with your financial data, company background, and the services you offer. With the selection of corporate fonts, you can experiment with your typography and exude credibility by incorporating your brand colors and logo. Add more headers, tables, and background images, and finally, send them to your desired recipients via email straight from Template.net. 

Do you feel like your reports need more work to be done? Share your draft or save a copy. The templates are downloadable in various formats, so you can simply edit them on Microsoft Word, Apple Pages, Google Docs, and other programs. Establish your company with ease today with Template.net’s sample business plans.  

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A Sample Software Development Business Plan Template

Are you about starting a software development company? If YES, here is a complete sample software development business plan template & feasibility report you can use for FREE . A software development company is where software is not only developed but distributed for different purposes such as instructional, learning, calculation, entertainment, and assessment purposes.

Before one can start a software company, there are basic things that one needs such as a knowledge of programming, technical support skills, the necessary experience at managing a company and funds. However, before starting a software development business, it would be best to conduct a thorough market research of the industry

1. Industry Overview

The software development industry has grown in the space of a century from an almost on-existent industry to one that is not only a billion dollar industry but an indispensible one, especially as software form the basis of modern gadgets and devices.

Between 2011 and 2016, this industry has been dynamic in growth, especially as there has been increasing demand from businesses and consumers, with more people spending their discretionary income on products such as video games.

The industry is being said to generate $205 billion and has a projected annual income of 3% from 2011 to 2016. There are more than 8,500 software development businesses in the united states of America that employs more than 455,000 people.

Globally as at 2013, according to Gartner, the software revenue was $407.3 billion which was a 4.8% increase from the #388.5 billion registered in 2012. The industry according to Forrester was projected to be the fastest growing in 2014 with a growth pegged at 7.1%.

The software development industry has room for growth as there is considerable demand in this industry with more businesses adopting software programs that will allow for improved efficiency and lower operating costs; this was so as to look for ways to not be affected by the economic downturn.

Cloud computing capabilities have created several advances for companies who have realized the positive effect of virtual offices and the savings implications for the company. This technology has helped companies to not only reduce overhead but increase productivity as well.

Another plus for companies are virtualizations which not only allow them to eliminate several server farms but has made IT infrastructure more economical and flexible while slashing operating costs.

There are moderate barriers for new businesses that wish to enter this industry; however, certain product segments have a higher barrier than others. One common thing in this industry is patents which serve as a means of limiting competition, even though some companies willingly license their patented technology.

2. Executive Summary

Doodle Tech Inc. is a leading software development business that is based in Market Street, Suite 800, San Francisco – California, USA. We are in business to develop software for general purposes and for specific purposes to our various clients. We have in place training services and we also offer technical support in line with our business.

Our location is very strategic in the sense that we are close to manufacturing firms as well as technology giants and other big businesses here in California that will ensure that we have an edge over other software companies in other parts of California.

We are in business to not only make profit but to also compete favorably against other software development companies in the industry and attain our vision of being the preferred software development company for clients all over the United States of America.

We intend to ensure that we demonstrate fair business ethics in every point of our business. We hold ourselves accountable for our high standards and ensure that all our employees are not only attuned to but display this standards at all times in order to positively promote the company.

As a result of this, we are willing to go the extra mile by putting in structures, processes and planes in place to ensure that we get the best professionals who not only have the expertise but are also competent and know how to take our company from where we are to where we intend to be.

Our employees have welfare packages that are currently amongst the best in the whole industry amongst similar start-ups such as ours. We have also provided a conducive environment for all our employees in order to ensure that they remain productive at all times in order to improve the bottom line of the company.

We offer excellent customer services that have been known to retain a high number of our clients. All our customer service executives have been trained to know how to respond to customers and are also updated as regards the industry trends in order to ensure that reliable information is passed to our clients.

Finally, the expertise of both our owners, Jack Taylor and Christopher Warden in software development and business management is a great plus as both are not only Harvard graduates but also have more than 30 years of combined experience that will ensure that Doodle Tech Inc. attains its goals and objectives in time.

3. Our Products and Services

Doodle Tech Inc. intends to deal in several services whilst also generating revenue that would boost our bottom line tremendously. These several services will be added to our core service and should keep us favorably disposed to compete against our competitors.

We however intend to ensure that all our multiple sources of income which include training and technical support are in line with what is obtainable in the industry and accordingly to the laws of the United States of America. Therefore some of the services and products we will engage in are;

• Developing of software according to clients’ specifications
• Sale of software
• Offering of subscriptions for our software
• Charging of license fees for our software
• Charging by transaction
• Advertisements on our software
• Training services
• Technical support

4. Our Mission and Vision Statement

• Our vision at Doodle Tech Inc. is to be distinct from other software development companies by creating software that suits the diverse needs of our end users, and to be the preferred software firm for users in the United States of America.
• In order to achieve our vision, we have on hand the best software developers that will ensure that we attain our goal of being the preferred software company and in meeting all the diverse software needs of our customers here in the United States of America.

Our Business Structure

We know how important it is to have the right business structure for our software development company as getting it right from the start will eliminate most hitches that will crop up relating to our structure during the course of running the business. For this purpose, we intend to hire only competent and professionals in the available positions in our company.

Due also to the fact that we intend to run a wide range of services, we intend to ensure that we employ those that are capable of filling in these different positions. All our employees are those who understand the industry well and who are attuned with our vision and are committed to ensuring that we attain these goals and objectives.

We are also prepared to ensure that our workers are well paid and have welfare packages that are the best in similar categories across start-ups such as ours in the industry. We will also ensure that the working environment is not only conducive but is one that will enhance their skills and make them more productive.

Below is the intended business structure for Doodle Tech Inc.;

Chief Executive Officer

Software Development Manager

Business Development Manager

Human Resources and Admin Manager

Customer Service Executives

Marketing Executives

Security Guard

5. Job Roles and Responsibilities

• Develop overall policies that would provide the right direction for the company
• Ensures that strategies are implemented and weak strategies are removed
• Meets and negotiate with high powered clients on behalf of the company
• Ensures that new software is developed and tested for bugs before being released to the public
• Develops new software for existing software so that clients can upgrade without running into hitches
• Carries out constant tests on software released to find out weak points and work on it.
• Researches on new businesses that will generate more revenue for the company
• Reviews company’s current products and services and decides how to make them better
• Works with the software development manager to give feedback on what the market trends are
• Prepares the budget on behalf of the firm and liaises with the owners to ensure that budget is reviewed and correctly implemented
• Prepares all the financial information and statement on behalf of the firm
• Ensures that tax is prepared and filed correctly to the correct authorities
• Ensures that the company’s books balances with that of the bank at the end of every month and accounting period
• Ensures that the right employees are recruited on behalf of the company
• Carries out orientation and ensures that employees are assigned the right tasks for their responsibilities
• Ensures that all the administrative functions of the company are performed smoothly without any hitches
• Ensures that all customers enquiries as well as complaints are well attended to and promptly resolved
• Keeps an accurate customer database on behalf of the company and ensures that it is regularly updated
• Carries out other duties as determined by the human resources and admin manager
• Conducts a marketing research on the software development industry to identify new markets for Doodle Tech Inc.
• Drafts strategies and reviews weak strategies to ensure that ineffective ones are removed
• Conducts direct marketing on behalf of the firm
• Meets and negotiates with high level clients on behalf of the firm
• Ensures that the premises and all the properties are secured after work hours by conducting patrols
• Monitors the surveillance cameras in line with securing people and property of Doodle Tech Inc.
• Keeps updated about the security information in the locality and pass along important security tips to staff
• Ensures that the premises is kept clean before work resumes
• Keeps the staff and guest conveniences clean at all times
• Ensures that cleaning supplies are always in stock
• Carries out any other duties as directed by the admin manager

6. SWOT Analysis

In order to determine if we were engaging in the right concept for our business, we hired the services of brand consultants who were not only reputable but the best here in San Francisco – California to let us know if it was worthwhile going into the business now.

The business consultants took a deep look at our strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to allow the know what we were likely to face starting and running our business here in San Francisco – California, and in the United States of America as a whole. The results of the SWOT analysis that was conducted on our behalf are as follows;

Our strengths are numerous and lie in the fact that we have the right business structure that will ensure that we conquer this industry. Our software developers are the best there is and have the expertise and experience to enable us attain our goals and objectives.

We are also involved in ensuring that our software pass through quality process, reason we have external testers who run several tests on any of our software before it is released. Finally, our owners have the necessary experience that would make our being at the top a piece of cake, as both have more than 30 years experience in the software industry both as developers and in managerial positions.

There are few weaknesses that we identified for Doodle Tech Inc. and they include the fact that we were going to develop software that were not really different from what our competitors were offering. Also, there is the other fact that we are located in an area where there are other software companies, making our location a bit saturated.

We are however confident that we would be able to battle whatever weaknesses might crop up during the course of running or starting the business.

• Opportunities

There are so many opportunities available to us as there are new market segments that we have identified which would likely generate money for us. There are so many strategic alliances which we would engage in so as to have a foot into other target markets and generate more revenue for our bottom line.

We also have the opportunity of moving into the international market as our software is such that has no boundary limits. Finally, we would fully tap into the internet in order to promote and increase awareness for our brand.

Threats are external factors that cannot be controlled by a business; however any serious business should not only be prepared for threats but also have ways by which these threats will not be allowed to totally affect the business.

Some of the threats we would likely face at Doodle Tech Inc. are; the arrival of a new competitor into our location, engaging in price wars with competitors, dealing with government policies that might have an effect on our industry. We are fully prepared for any threats we are likely to face, as we have strategies on ground to battle such threats.

7. MARKET ANALYSIS

• Market Trends

The trend in the software industry is that most software firms or companies are located in clusters in identifiable locations. This is due to certain facts such as these companies wanting to be close for competitive and industry purposes and also most software companies depend on one another to be able to carry out certain functions or complete certain specific tasks for clients.

This does not however mean that there aren’t software companies in other locations or that software companies in these other locations cant still get jobs done. To however remain relevant, software companies must always remain innovative and unique in their offerings and services. Another trend with software companies is in its publicity and promotion activities.

To be able to attract the much needed awareness and also attract clients that would pay money for the firms’ products, software companies have engaged in strong promotional activities either by hiring brand consultants or getting an in-house team or deploying both methods to draft the strategies that would enable it be recognized in the industry. Intense promotional activities will also help in getting a huge share of the market.

Lastly, software cannot work without any device and so goes hand in hand with new or existing technology; which is why most software companies try to partner with technology firms so as to create new software or upgrade existing software for these firms. This goes to show that software industry is dependent on the technology and manufacturing industry in order to survive or thrive.

8. Our Target Market

Almost everyone makes use of software and have either bought directly from the developers or indirectly via owning a device. This means that the target market for any software development company is wide. We however have mapped out a strategy that would allow us gain a vital share of the target market.

One of our first strategies is in conducting a thorough market research that would enable us understand the market we are to go into and know what they expect from us and what our obligations are towards them. The result of the market research of the market research showed that we were in business to develop software or offer other kinds of related services to the following people;

• Corporate organizations
• entertainment industry
• Educational institutions
• Accounting firms
• Financial institutions
• Small businesses
• Agricultural sector
• Military and defense sector
• Other software companies

Our competitive advantage

Just like any other business that is established to make profit, we hope to be able to compete favorably against our competitors in the same industry. Our vision is to be the preferred software development company for our clients all over the United States of America and to achieve this, we intend to come up with competitive strategies that would enable us attain our goals and objectives.

We intend to ensure that the software developed for general purposes will come in different categories that will be convenient for all our users.

We have assembled a high team of software developers as well as management team who are not only highly experienced and who understand how to handle a start-up and make it become a force to be reckoned with nationally. Our staffs are also attuned to our core values and principles and understand the importance of projecting the image of the company positively to our customers – potential and existing.

Another competitive advantage that we have to our favor is our excellent customer service culture which is already resounding across the industry as one of the best of start-ups of our size. Our customer executives are highly trained and are always updated on industry trends so as to be able to give our customers the correct information at all times.

Finally, because we know how important it is for our employees to be happy always, we are committed to treating them right. Our management team has a stake in the company’s profits and our lower cadre employees have incentives built into their welfare packages. All this is to enable our employees remain happy and productive.

9. SALES AND MARKETING STRATEGY

• Sources of Income

Doodle Tech Inc. just like any other business has been established with the aim of generating revenue and making profit in the technology and software industry, and we are going to ensure that we make software that will help us accomplish this purpose, as well as engage in other services as well.

Doodle Tech Inc. therefore intends to generate income by engaging in the following services;

10. Sales Forecast

The software industry has come to stay and can only keep evolving into something bigger and stronger, as there will always be gadgets, devices and templates that would require the use of a new software or an upgrade.

Our strategic location in San Francisco – California has afforded us the opportunity to be close to many technological giants and businesses and this will see us generating and meeting our set revenue in no time, thereby growing our business tremendously.

After conducting a thorough analysis on the software industry and analyzing our chances in the industry, we were able to come up with a sales forecast that has shown strong positives in how we are likely to far in the market.

The sales projections were based on several assumptions and facts garnered across similar start-ups in the industry and across the United States of America as a whole. Therefore, the sales projection that Doodle Tech Inc. conducted to analyze its chances are as follows;

• First Fiscal Year-: $400,000
• Second Fiscal Year-: $800,000
• Third Fiscal Year-: $1,600,000

N.B : The above sales projections were done based on major assumptions that some factors that were used in making these assumptions would remain the same. However, should there be any change either positively or negatively, it would likely increase or decrease the above figures.

• Marketing Strategy and Sales Strategy

Marketing is a very important aspect of any business because it is not only a way to generate revenue for a business; it is also a way of garnering publicity to attract new customers whilst retaining the old ones. Every business no matter its level or life cycle of needs marketing in order to thrive, which is why any entrepreneur or business person starting or running a business usually sets money aside for marketing.

Asides creating funds for marketing, it is also important to ensure that effective strategies are created. Creating effective marketing strategies are essential as they would ensure that the funds are channeled the right way. In marketing Doodle Tech Inc., we would ensure that we leverage on all conventional and unconventional means of making sure that our brand and products are marketed to all our existing and potential customers.

We would conduct a market survey that would allow us understand the right strategies to draft and how effective they would be depending on the target market. To conduct a thorough market survey, we would make use of accurate available data so that we would be effectively able to compete with all our competitors all over the United States of America.

We also intend to hire a reputable marketing consultant who should be able to draft the right marketing strategies that would allow Doodle Tech Inc. penetrate the market. Also, our marketing team would be empowered in ensuring that the marketing strategies created are in tune with our corporate goals and objectives as a business.

Therefore, the following are the marketing strategies we hope to adopt at Doodle Tech Inc. in order to sell our products and services;

• Ensure that we introduce our software development business by sending out introductory letters to technology and manufacturing companies as well as other big software companies and other stakeholders in the industry.
• Network with other software companies by attending software developer conferences
• Advertise our software development business in local newspapers, technology related magazines, and in local radio and television stations
• Ensure that Doodle Tech Inc. is listed in online and offline directories
• Engage in direct marketing and sales
• Ensure that we are actively involved in forums and blogs in marketing our company

11. Publicity and Advertising Strategy

Carrying out the right publicity and advertisement for our software development business is very essential as it is not enough to just penetrate the market and also create awareness, but to ensure that the strategy will result in Doodle Tech Inc.’s products becoming generic terms for similar products in the same category.

Due to this vision, we have hired a reputable publicity consultant who has the industry knowledge and expertise and who will help in ensuring that our company gets to the top by drafting out strategies that are in line with the core policies of the company and will boost our brand and allow us compete favorably against our competitors.

Below are some of the platforms we intend to leverage on in order to promote Doodle Tech Inc.;

• Develop a free version of our software and give users an opportunity to upgrade at a cost
• Leverage on relevant social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Google Hangout and other developers’ forum in order to create awareness about Doodle Tech Inc.
• Engage in pay per click advertisement on popular software development forums
• Create contests on social media and via our website to generate more publicity
• Distribute our handbills and fliers in strategic locations
• Install our flexi banners in conspicuous and strategic locations all over San Francisco

12. Our Pricing Strategy

Determining the right price for our various software’s will depend on a number of factors, such as how much the market will willingly pay for such software, how much that category of software is being charged for by competitors, and how unique the software is. Other factors that will determine the prices are if we intend to charge a licensing fee for our software, or enable a pay per transaction or a subscription that is time-limited for the end user.

In view of all the above based factors, we will offer our software at prices that are at the prevailing market conditions. However, because this is a competitive market, we will however lower our prices in the first two months of business so as to attract more customers to our business, and also increase the awareness for our products.

• Payment Options

Doodle Tech Inc. realizes that due to improving technology, customers now have different payment options that they can use in paying for services; and so we have different payment policy that is intended to suit all our different customers and their diverse needs.

The payment options we have for our clients are;

• Cash payment
• Payment via check
• Payment via online payment portal
• Payment via Point of Sale (POS) Machine
• Payment via credit card

The above payment platforms were carefully chosen for us by our bank and we have been told that our customers will not experience any hitches or inconvenience whilst using the above platforms.

13. Startup Expenditure (Budget)

Even though some of the equipment that can be used to start and run a software development company can be gotten for fairly used, thereby lowering the costs of start-up, it will however be vital to stress that setting up a standard software development company would require the equipment used to be standard so as to be able to withstand the heavy workload that it might have to carry out.

Also, the bulk of capital in these circumstances usually goes to paying workers and utility bills that the business will incur during the course of its operation. Therefore, the key areas where we intend to spend our start-up capital on are;

• Total fee for registering Doodle Tech Inc. in the United States of America – $750
• Licenses, permits as well as accounting software – $1250
• Insurance policy (general liability, workers’ compensation) – $2,000
• Leasing and renovating of a facility for use for at least a year – $20,000
• Cost of hiring a business consultant – $2,000
• Operational cost for the first 3 months (salaries of employees and payment of bills) – $200,000
• Other start-up expenses which includes (windows hosting, Linux hosting, bug tracking, graphics design, software subscription and cable broadband) – $15,000
• Marketing promotion expenses (general marketing expenses and promotion activities for grand opening ceremony) – $5,000
• Administrative expenses (stationeries, phone, computers, printers, furniture business cards, office supplies, and stamps)  – $10,000
• Cost of purchasing an official vehicle – $30,000
• Cost of launching a website – $1,000
• Cost of throwing a grand opening party – $5,000
• Miscellaneous – $8,000

From the following report, we would need an estimate of $300,000 to be able to start and successfully set up a software development company in San Francisco – California. IT should be noted the bulk of the capital (90%) went towards payment of salaries for employees for a period of three months.

Generating Funding / Startup Capital for Doodle Tech Inc. Business

Doodle Tech Inc. is a business owned by two geeks and businessmen, Jack Taylor and Christopher Warden. We realize our financing is important for our company if we intend to successfully start, run and become a force to be reckoned with in the industry.

We are however going to be careful in where we source for money so as not to lose a part of our company or get locked in repaying a loan that might hinder the progress of our company. This is why we have decided to limit our sources for income to just 5 sources; The following are sources where we intend to get our start-up capital from;

• Generate part capital from our personal savings and sale of stocks
• Get soft loans from family members and friends
• Apply for research grants at the state and federal level
• Source for part capital from online crowdfunding sites like kick starter
• Apply for loan from commercial bank

N.B: from our personal savings and the sale of some of our stocks, we were able to generate the sum of $30,000. The soft loans from our family members and friends amounted to $20,000. We applied for a grant of $50,000 at the state level and have been considered.

We were able to generate the sum of $70,000 from sourcing for funds from kick starter, and we are at the final stages of getting our loan of $130,000 approved for us by the bank. All the necessary documents have been signed and we have been assured by our banker that the amount will soon be credited to our account within two weeks.

14. Sustainability and Expansion Strategy

Doodle Tech Inc. is established with the aim of making profit and competing amongst others here in the software industry. We are however concerned about the future of our company and so we intend to ensure that we deploy sustainability and expansion strategies so as to keep our business running for a long time.