How to Structure a Business Plan in 2025: A Guide for Digital Entrepreneurs
Explore the 2025 guide to business plans: classic, lightweight, visual and digital formats, with real-world examples and practical tools for launching your project.
Hello,
As more and more Quebecers take the leap into self-employment, the question of how to structure a business plan is resurfacing as a key step in the entrepreneurial journey. With new government support programs for business creation and the growing need for solid planning in digital, creative and independent sectors, knowing how to build an effective plan has become essential.
Whether you’re still at the idea stage or already operating your business, this article offers a comprehensive overview of the types of business plans available in 2025, along with concrete examples and practical tools to help you build your professional future on a solid foundation.
Why read this article?
Discover the different types of business plans and which one suits your project in 2025.
Learn how to build a clear strategy, whether you’re a solopreneur, artist, or SME.
Access practical resources, downloadable tools, and a case study to get started effectively.
MusicScore: Here is the perfect song to listen while reading this article: The Business by Tiësto.
Why Structure Your Business Project in 2025?
In a constantly evolving economy, clarity is one of the keys to entrepreneurial success. Whether you’re a content creator, freelancer, web consultant or creative entrepreneur, a business plan remains a vital tool to structure your vision, plan your actions, and build credibility.
In 2025, many entrepreneurs no longer write business plans just to obtain financing, but to build a flexible and evolving roadmap. It serves to validate positioning, test ideas, define goals, or commit to a coherent digital strategy.
According to the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), “A business plan is a roadmap that helps you structure your company, measure your progress, and plan for growth.” (Source: bdc.ca)
Desjardins also states that “writing a business plan is still an essential step for any serious entrepreneur. It demonstrates the promoter’s discipline while facilitating the search for partners or funding.” (Source: desjardins.com)
The Main Types of Business Plans Today
There is no longer just one way to write a business plan. Here are the main formats in use today, each suited to a specific entrepreneurial context.
Formal: The classic business plan
Streamlined: Promoting key strategic points
Visual: one-page visual matrix
Digital: virtual and interactive business plans
To help you choose, we provide a detailed analysis of each type, along with illustrative cases.
The Classic Business Plan (Formal)
The classic business plan is the most rigorous and structured version. It’s typically required by financial institutions, investors, or public grant programs. This format can span several dozen pages and covers all aspects of the business: strategy, finances, market, team, risks, and more.
This type of plan is especially useful in the following cases:
A company seeking significant bank financing (e.g., $50,000 or more)
A project involving external partners or investors
An organization applying for structured grant or incubation programs
Example 1: An entrepreneur wants to open a café boutique in a major city in Quebec. They need a $75,000 startup loan for renovations, equipment, and inventory. The financial institution requests a complete and detailed business plan.
Example 2: A Tech SME is looking to attract private investors. They present a comprehensive plan including 3-year financial projections, market analysis, and a national growth vision.
Example 3: A cultural organization applies for a regional development grant. The application requires a detailed business plan outlining the economic impact, governance structure, and a production timeline.
This format requires strong writing skills, well-documented data, and a good understanding of financial concepts. It’s designed for mature or ambitious projects.
The Streamlined Plan or Operational Summary
The streamlined plan is a simplified version that maintains key strategic points but presents them in just a few pages. It’s often used by individual entrepreneurs, freelancers, or those launching pilot projects quickly.
It helps organize ideas, plan first steps, and validate a project’s feasibility without the need for formal documentation.
Example 1: A freelance graphic designer is preparing to launch her online portfolio and wants to structure her services, target audience, and pricing. She writes a 5-page summary to clarify her approach.
Example 2: A vegan caterer plans to offer services at festivals. He uses a short plan to outline startup needs, equipment, costs, and pricing, without seeking bank financing.
Example 3: A musical duo wants to self-produce an album. They draft a clear project brief to build a timeline, divide tasks, and apply for a small private grant.
This format is recommended for small-scale or solo projects and early-stage ideas. It can later evolve into a more formal plan.
The Business Model Canvas
The Business Model Canvas (BMC) is a one-page visual matrix that maps out the key components of a business model. Developed by Alexander Osterwalder, it’s widely used by both incubators and independent entrepreneurs.
The canvas is divided into nine blocks: partners, activities, value propositions, customer relationships, customer segments, distribution channels, key resources, cost structure, and revenue streams.
Example 1: A mobile app developer uses the BMC to map out a new booking platform. It helps identify strategic partners, digital channels, potential income, and customer profiles.
Example 2: An artisan wants to sell handmade products online. She uses the canvas to structure her offer, choose channels (Etsy, Shopify, local markets), and calculate production costs.
Example 3: A university student team creates a tech solution for a competition. The canvas allows them to quickly present the project to a jury and visualize its key elements without detailing everything.
The BMC is ideal during the startup phase, for prototyping, or during rapid presentations. It can be integrated into a more comprehensive business plan later on.
The Digital or Evolving Plan
With the rise of tools like Notion, Google Docs, Trello or Airtable, more and more entrepreneurs are building digital and interactive business plans. These documents are often organized in modules, dynamic tables, or collaborative sections.
This type of plan allows real-time updates, continuous revisions, and easy collaboration with partners or advisors. It’s flexible and especially suited for digital contexts.
Example 1: A digital marketing agency creates its plan in notion, integrating dashboards, campaign links, dynamic financial tables, and an action calendar.
Example 2: A language service entrepreneur shares her plan in Google Docs with her mentor and accountant to adjust offers, pricing, and schedules based on feedback.
Example 3: An arts collective use Trello to structure its annual action plan, including tasks, deliverables, funding sources, and communication, with adjustable deadlines and visual attachments.
This type of plan is ideal for fast-evolving projects, remote teams, or tech-oriented entrepreneurs. It becomes both a strategic guide and a day-to-day management tool.
The format should reflect your context, goals, and resources. The key is to choose a model that helps you move forward effectively while remaining adaptable to your needs.
The 9 Essential Components of a Clear Business Plan
Executive Summary
A brief overview of the project: who, what, how, for whom. It should be written last, but placed first in the document.Business or Project Description
Project origin
Objectives and vision
Legal structure (or planned)
Current development status
Products or Services Offered
Description of the offer
Added value
Market positioning
Market Analysis
Target customers
Identified needs
Direct and indirect competitors
Useful statistical data
Marketing and Communication Strategy
Communication channels (web, social media, newsletters)
Promotional offer
Launch timeline
Operational Plan
Production process
Suppliers and partners
Technological tools
Team Presentation
Founder and collaborators
Key skills
Roles and responsibilities
Financial Forecasts
Estimated revenues
Fixed and variable costs
Forecast table over 12 to 24 months
Appendices
CVs, visuals, prototypes, links to a portfolio or a website
Starting a Business in Quebec: Supportive yet Demanding
Launching a business in Quebec in 2025 means having access to a dynamic support ecosystem: incubators, grants, and advisory organizations. However, the competition is fierce—especially in digital services, the creative sector, and local commerce. A strong business plan helps entrepreneurs stand out early on.
Whether you’re opening a retail store, offering professional services, or launching a cultural project, it’s essential to document your intentions, target markets, and strategic approaches. Several Quebec entrepreneurship programs even require a business plan to access funding or mentorship.
Updating Your Business Plan: A Strategic Reflex
A business plan should never remain static. Best practices recommend reviewing it annually—or even every six months—to:
Adjust forecasts based on real performance
Integrate new opportunities or technologies
Adapt marketing strategies to consumer behaviour
Validate that the initial vision still holds true
By updating it regularly, entrepreneurs maintain an overview of their business, reinforce credibility, and improve long-term success. The plan becomes a living tool that evolves with the company.
Three Common Mistakes to Avoid
Underestimating costs: Entrepreneurs often minimize expenses. It’s better to include a 10–20% margin for the unexpected.
Neglecting market analysis: Believing your idea is unique without checking the competition is a common trap.
Writing only for others: A good plan should serve the entrepreneur first, not just impress funders.
Useful Tools to Explore or Download
BDC business plan template (free)
Quebec.ca Excel templates for financial forecasting
Futurpreneur’s online step-by-step tool
Canva or Notion to design a visual and editable plan
Case Study – Launching a Graphic Design Business
Camille, 28, plans to launch her graphic design studio in Quebec City. Already freelancing, she wants to structure her offer and launch a professional website. Through her business plan, Camille was able to:
Define her three main services (branding, web mockups, print materials)
Identify her target audience (startups, artists, cultural organizations)
Choose a content strategy for social media
Forecast income and expenses over 24 months with a realistic outlook
Thanks to this approach, she presented a solid file to her credit union and secured a small startup loan.
Going Further – Building Your Online Presence
A solid business plan is a great start. But a clear and professional online presence is essential. To support your business launch, download the free White Paper – Preparing Your First Website published by Services W+M.
This practical guide will help you create or improve your website, whether you’re just starting out or scaling up.
Conclusion
No matter the format, a well-structured business plan acts as a true navigation tool. It helps you stay on course, measure your progress, and make decisions aligned with your vision. In 2025, clarity and structure are key assets—especially in a competitive digital environment.
It’s not the length of the document that gives it value, but its ability to help you move forward with confidence, adapt to change, and convince the right people. Your project deserves a plan that lives up to its potential.
Thank you for reading. See you on The Blog!
Jeff Maheux
Sources:
Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) – https://www.bdc.ca
Desjardins Group – https://www.desjardins.com
Government of Quebec – https://www.quebec.ca
Futurpreneur Canada – https://www.futurpreneur.ca
Business plan templates: BDC, Quebec.ca, Futurpreneur
Presentation tools: Canva, Notion
Cr images: Production Services W+M.
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