Business Plan Writing Tips
BUSINESS PLAN WRITING TIPS
Grammar Pattern
Warm-up
Discuss these questions with your teacher before reading.
- Have you ever written or been involved in creating a business plan? What was the most challenging part?
사업 계획서를 작성하거나 작성에 참여한 적이 있나요? 가장 어려운 부분은 무엇이었나요? - If you had to pitch a business idea in one paragraph, how would you structure it?
사업 아이디어를 한 단락으로 발표해야 한다면 어떻게 구성하시겠습니까?
Vocabulary
Key words and expressions from the reading.
Reading
Read the passage with your teacher.
선생님과 함께 지문을 읽어보세요.
Grammar Pattern
Keep each section short
Keep the business plan short. Whatever the length, your main aim is to write ‘tightly’ keeping to the relevant facts. Keep more detailed and non-essential information out of your plan or relegate it to an attachment.
Use Quantifiable Information
In each section, back up your assertions with solid facts. Even if you are a new venture and cannot give specific figures on the performance of your business, quote figures for the industry or your competitors. These real figures carry more weight than your assumed projections and give more reality to your plan.
Use a Clear Writing Style and Good Presentation
No one will bother with your plan if it’s hard work to read or work through because it’s poorly written or badly presented.
Writing Your Business Plan in Plain English
Write in plain English. Make sure you avoid technical jargon, abbreviations and acronyms. Explain any industry-specific terms. Use short sentences, active verbs and a conversational style. Keep your adjectives under control. Avoid generalizations and write up specific and quantifiable facts. Use bullets and lists. Cut wordy phrases and hopeful wishes and platitudes. Use your spell-checker and watch out for grammatical and punctuation slips.
Presenting Your Business Plan
Decide what information you are going to use. Place data in tables and use charts to show the key information you want to stress. Make sure everything you present, words, tables, charts, photographs and so on is easy to understand at a glance. Use plenty of white space, with generous margins. Bind the business plan with a strong and attractive cover.
Korean Trap
Korean speakers often make this mistake in business writing.
'경쟁력'을 'competitiveness'로 직역하면 추상적입니다. 비즈니스 플랜에서는 'competitive advantage' (경쟁 우위) 또는 'competitive edge'가 더 구체적입니다. 또한 'confident about'보다 'confident in'이 비즈니스 맥락에서 더 자연스럽습니다.
Discussion
Discuss these questions with your teacher after reading.
- The passage emphasizes using "quantifiable information" and backing up assertions with solid facts. Why do numbers carry more weight than opinions in business plans? Can you think of an example?
본문에서 '정량화된 정보'를 사용하고 주장을 확실한 사실로 뒷받침하라고 강조합니다. 비즈니스 플랜에서 숫자가 의견보다 왜 더 설득력이 있나요? - The text advises writing in "plain English" and avoiding jargon. How does this apply to business plans written in English by Korean professionals? What Korean business terms are hard to translate?
'쉬운 영어'로 쓰고 전문 용어를 피하라고 합니다. 한국인 전문가가 영어로 사업계획서를 쓸 때 이것이 어떻게 적용되나요? 번역하기 어려운 한국 비즈니스 용어는 무엇인가요? - The passage says to "cut wordy phrases and hopeful wishes and platitudes." What is the difference between confident business writing and overblown promises?
'장황한 표현과 희망적 바람과 진부한 말을 줄이라'고 합니다. 자신감 있는 비즈니스 작문과 과장된 약속의 차이는 무엇인가요? - The text recommends using "short sentences, active verbs, and a conversational style." Try rewriting this sentence in plain English: "It is expected that the implementation of the proposed initiative will result in significant improvements."
'짧은 문장, 능동태 동사, 대화체'를 사용하라고 합니다. 이 문장을 쉬운 영어로 다시 써 보세요: "It is expected that the implementation of the proposed initiative will result in significant improvements."
Lesson Summary / 수업 요약
Today's Topic: BUSINESS PLAN WRITING TIPS
Level: Business (BIZ)
Review this lesson before your next class! / 다음 수업 전에 복습하세요!