Give an overview of the purpose and commercial aims of the website and how you will try to achieve those aims:

• Website features and facilities
• Online payment system
• Online security
WEBSITE FEATURES AND FACILITIES
Outline exactly how many features and facilities your website will have and explain and justify each one. For example:

• Customer/membership database
• Shopping cart

For any startup company there is one business tool that is often crucial to its success; the business plan. This document is a blueprint and road map for the structure, strategy, processes and growth of the business.

Researched, written and formatted correctly, the business plan can help ensure the success of any business by helping you to:

• Stick to your plan
• Outline your business model
• Identify future cash flow problems
• Secure funding

List all of your major products and services. For each product or service answer these questions:

• Describe its important features. What is special about it?
• Describe the benefits. That is, what will the product or service do for the customer?
• What is the current and predicted demand for the product or service?
• Describe in depth the product or services you will offer.
• What factors will give you competitive advantages or disadvantages? Examples include level of quality or unique or proprietary

No matter how good your product or service, your venture will not succeed without effective marketing. This begins with careful, systematic research. It is dangerous to assume that you already know everything about your intended market. You need to do market research to make sure you are on track. If you use the business planning process as your opportunity to uncover data, and to question your marketing efforts, your time will be well-spent.

A marketing plan could include the following sections:

•