A business plan assesses how feasible an individual project or initiative is and provides a detailed road map for implementing it. It differs from a strategic plan or a community energy plan in that it is a very focused and detailed document.

A business plan is typically used to attract funding and business partners, but it is also a valuable management tool. It ensures that the entire business process is taken into account early on and establishes tools that will help you to monitor the development of your business.

A business plan may begin as a simple document, but as your project idea develops into an operational business, it could become a larger and very detailed document that includes all the information that defines your renewable energy business.
 
The business plan answers the following important questions:

• Who are you and what are the products or services that your business will provide?
• What is the ownership structure of your business and where will it be located?
• What is the market for your products or services and how will your business attract customers?
• What are the projected financials (assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses) and financing needs of your business?
• What resources, people and equipment does your business need during its start-up phase and ongoing operation?
• What are the risks of your business and how are they going to be minimized?
• What is the timeline for your project or initiative?