Decide whether your entertainment business is for one particular project (such as a film) or makes projects on a regular basis.
Identify your audience. Before you put pen to paper, know your target market and who will read your business plan. If you plan to get investors or a bank loan, include plenty of graphs and charts. Outsiders may not quite understand all of the nuances of your business plan, but they definitely will understand numbers.
Draft a table of contents. This will assist both you and readers to find desired sections with relative ease. It also shows potential lenders and investors that you are organized and have done your homework.
Write an executive summary. Think of this as an overview of your company. It should include your business' purpose and goals, target audience, competition, marketing plans, and profit and financial projections. Be honest but upbeat. After someone looks at your executive summary, she should feel that she knows what your company does and, just as important, how you will make money. If you write a business plan for one particular project instead of a continued series of projects, compare your work to similar projects that have a good track record. For example, you could say that your album is a cross between The Beatles' "Abbey Road" and Madonna's music.
Describe your team. Because entertainment isn't always as readily quantifiable as many other industries, it's important to know your key players. Team biographies should induce confidence and show the reader how your team will help you achieve your objectives. Your biography should come first. Strive for conciseness and relevance.
Define your market and target audience. Statistics, graphs and charts are particularly necessary for this section; so do your homework. Research your market and get as much data on your target audience as you can. Explain how you will reach your audience. Avoid simply dropping marketing terms such as "social networking" and "social media." State specifically what these marketing tools are and how you plan to utilize them.
Identify your competition. Most of us like to think of our ideas as unique. In practice, though, few people seldom reach that lofty spot. This is particularly true in the entertainment industry. Be honest, but also show how your ideas are unique.
Create a project production budget section. Use a professional budget software program to do this. Programs are specifically designed for entertainment budgets, and you can find some for free via the Internet. The project production budget section is an absolute must. It will help you estimate your project expenses and help to keep you on budget.
Create a cash flow section. Many good businesses and good business ideas fail due to cash flow problems. Cash flow is the movement of cash into or out of your business. Use charts and graphs to show projections (product prices and expenses), and specify specific time periods, which should include at least one year's worth. Investors and lenders pay particular attention to cash flow. So spend some additional time and thought with this part of your business plan.
Identify risks. Every business venture carries risk, and this is especially true for the entertainment industry. Avoid hyperbole, and be honest with your potential investors as well as with yourself.
Write your final points. Reiterate your main points from each section, and end on an upbeat note.