Business Plan Preparation

A business plan in 2026 is two documents in one. For a banker, it is a credit case — projections, DSCR, working-capital cycle, end-use, CMA-aligned and survivable through credit committee. For an investor, it is an equity story — market size, moat, unit economics, TAM/SAM/SOM, capital efficiency, and a path to a 10x exit. Most founders write one document for both audiences and lose at both. Bankers reject it for being too narrative; investors reject it for being too financial.

The tax layer makes the stakes higher. A DPIIT-recognised startup positioned for the Section 80-IAC tax holiday (100% deduction for any 3 consecutive years out of first 10) needs the business plan to articulate ‘innovation, development, improvement of products / processes / services or scalable business model with high potential of employment generation or wealth creation’ — the literal Inter-Ministerial Board (IMB) test. A weakly worded business plan loses the tax holiday at IMB stage even when the company qualifies on substance.

We write business plans that hold up at both windows — banker-grade financials with CMA-format alignment for term-loan / working-capital sanction, and investor-grade narrative with Section 80-IAC positioning for IMB recognition. Each plan is bespoke to the asks (loan size, equity round, grant application) — we do not template.

What Goes Inside an Investor- and Lender-Ready Business Plan

• Executive Summary (1-2 pages):: Problem, solution, market, team, traction, ask, use-of-funds, projected exit — the only page some readers see.

• Market Sizing — TAM / SAM / SOM:: Top-down and bottom-up triangulation; sources cited; 5-year market growth; addressable wedge in year 1, year 3, year 5.

• Product / Service & Moat:: Customer problem, solution, IP / patents, network effects, switching costs, regulatory advantages — anything that defends the gross margin.

• Go-to-Market & Unit Economics:: CAC, LTV, payback period, gross margin, contribution margin, channel mix, sales-cycle length — the numbers a Series A partner will redo on the back of an envelope.

• 5-Year Financial Projections:: P&L, balance sheet, cash flow — monthly for years 1-2, quarterly for years 3-5; revenue build by SKU/segment; cost build by line item; capex schedule; working-capital assumptions.

• Sensitivity & Risk Register:: Best / base / worst-case scenarios; key-driver sensitivities; identified risks with mitigation; covenants the company can comfortably meet.

• Team & Org Plan:: Founder bios, key hires, hiring plan year-by-year, ESOP plan, board / advisory structure.

• Funding Ask & Use of Funds:: Equity / debt mix, round size, milestones unlocked, runway, dilution, terms expected — calibrated to the lender / investor profile.

CMA Alignment for Bank Lending

For loan applications, the business-plan financials must reconcile to the RBI-prescribed CMA Format (Form II for WC, Form III for TL). Most founder-built plans show top-line growth without working-capital absorption, current-ratio movement, or DSCR — the three numbers a banker actually reads. We build the plan and the CMA in the same model, so banker and investor see the same financial truth.