Cannabis Business Plan
How to Write a Cannabis Business Plan
Cannabis Business Plan
A cannabis business plan is needed for any business looking to get started in the cannabis industry. A business plan is the blueprint to your cannabis business and it can truly make or break your application. Writing a business plan can be a daunting task, and cannabis consultants, like those at Cannabis Industry Advisors, are skilled at the process of creating a strong business plan. In this article we’ll explore everything you need to create a solid cannabis business plan.
RELATED POST: How to Open a Cannabis Dispensary in Illinois
RELATED POST: How to Grow Your Cannabis Business
Want to Open a Craft Grow
How to Create a Perfect Cannabis Business Plan
Cannabis Business Plan
Are you about to start a cannabis business? If your answer is yes, we’ll tell you how to create a perfect cannabis business plan that will show your investors the real potential of your business.
To make a perfect plan, you’ll need relevant information. You need to know how you’re going to operate, what kind of products you plan to offer to the market, what type of business structure you want to implement and how you plan to find the ideal customers.
Of course, we agree on one thing.
Creating a business plan could be demanding.
However, if you know the regulations and the right approach to creating an effective business plan, you’ll have an easy time making it.
The right cannabis business plan will not only show potential investors your ability to plan your business activities. It will also reveal what points to consider if you want to profit from your business in the long run.
Why Is Creating a Cannabis Business Plan Important
One study from the University of Oregon shows that businesses with plans grow faster and create much more profit in the long run. Other studies also show that entrepreneurs who build a business plan are 152 percent more likely to start their business. A business plan is a strategic tool for entrepreneurs that helps them realize their short-term and long-term objectives.
Ten most important reasons for creating a cannabis business plan are:
- Sharing the specific objectives for you and your managers
- Creating the strategy, priorities, and relevant actions that will elevate your business in the future
- Dealing with practical concepts in your strategy
- Deciding on the right cannabis business model and the structure of your company
- Hiring the most skilled people who will help you conquer the market faster
- Valuating the overall segments of your business and finding the right sources of funding for the business model
- Creating the proper loan application for growing the relevant areas of your business
- Targeting the exact market with products that will serve the purpose and feed the market demands
- Decreasing the unnecessary costs while opening a business
- Finding the solutions that change your business for better and put you in place on the market where your products will be valued appropriately
All these benefits from a cannabis business plan are visible when considering all the aspects of your planning.
It is more than obvious why a plan brings the future to your cannabis business. So, why not create a perfect plan that will speak about your business in the best way? You will realize your real business potential, and your goals will be evident in the future.
Find out what you need to create a compelling and effective cannabis business plan that will bring you success.
Writing a Perfect Cannabis Business Plan
Having the right cannabis business plan increases your chances of attracting investors and other entrepreneurs who will be willing to collaborate with you. When you want to make your business plan complete, it is best to mention some of the essential facts about your business. The following categories speak about your business organization and relevant areas of your daily operation:
1. Executive Summary
An executive summary should be a summary of your full business plan that could stand alone. Here, you show investors who you are, who is part of your management team, what is your target market, who are the competitors, and what problems you plan to solve on the market. An executive summary should describe your business model in detail. If you plan to open a dispensary, make sure you include the products you want to offer to consumers. If you are a cannabis processor, focus on your primary operations as a middleman. In case you are a cannabis producer, mention in your executive summary of how you plan to sell products to companies and processors.
2. Company Description
In the company description section, one thing is the most important – your legal structure. While opening a cannabis business, you should focus on legal requirements in your state, especially regarding cannabis production and distribution. In some states, you need to carefully revise which type of cannabis variety is approved for production and market distribution. On some other occasions, you may need to consider opening a dispensary with limited amounts of products, depending on your state’s regulations regarding some varieties. The legal structure is a crucial part of your cannabis business plan, and it is good to get advice on how to structure this part of the plan. Other points of the company description section include the history of the company, mission statement, location, and management team.
3. Market Analysis
When it comes to overall cannabis business market analysis, one thing is sure. It is a business with considerable opportunities to make a significant profit. The report from Grand View Research shows the global value of the cannabis market will be $73.6 billion by 2027. Making the right marketing analysis is crucial for you to get a share of the market. You have to know the trends in medical and adult-use applications. There are also some critical segments of the easy or hard availability of the products. You may also look for the ideal age for your consumers and their reasons for cannabis consumption. Market analysis also cover prices. This part will make your cannabis business plan effective if you know the market prices and their change over time. Your business will undoubtedly have the future if you succeed in offering the affordable price for the demanding product. That is why market analysis provides much more than a simple summary of the market. It also shows you a broader perspective on how you plan to make your business profitable.
4. Competitive Analysis
As part of a competitive analysis, you find a strategy where you reveal more about your competitors and their sales, products, and marketing strategies. The primary purpose of a competitive study is to determine your competitors’ strengths and weaknesses. This way, you create a significant advantage by revealing what assets and skills are needed to become successful in the cannabis industry. Competitive strategies wrap up five different areas: pricing, promotion, distribution, advertising, and products.
5. Management & Operations
In the section of management and operations, you should talk about your organizational structure. Highlight you and your team, and mention the key roles in the company. Mention what tasks each team member will work on, and how operative your business will be. Management in the cannabis business is usually responsive to your organization skills, which is why you should develop a strategy to keep your business up to date when it comes to new regulation announcements and market changes. Sometimes, it is good to find an equally experienced partner who can help you see a larger perspective of your business. As a result, you may end up in a collaboration that will increase your chances of winning the market. The management and operation segment in the cannabis business plan also covers your technology and inventory system for packaging, labeling, and distribution of products. Your execution solutions are also relevant to mention.
6. Marketing and Sales
This segment is crucial for your profit. When it comes to marketing and sales area, it is all about your positioning on the market. Think about how you are going to promote your products, who your ideal customers are, how you plan to change the market and the main advantages of your offers. Do you want to use digital marketing tactics, or you need offsite promotion? In sales, you’ll also need accounting skills, so it is best to have a strategic accountant in your team. Your competitors know your performance, and you should know theirs too. Research the market and see how you can position your brand to stand out from the crowd. The cannabis business is “the best business of the decade,” as some call it, but if you want to last for a decade and longer, you need to market yourself wisely. For this part, try to think about why your business will be in demand in the future.
7. Financial Summary
As the last part of your cannabis business plan, create a distinctive and truthful financial summary. There are three financial statements to include: the income statement, the cash flow projection, and the balance sheet. As part of the income statement, you should consider each fiscal quarter or year of your income. When you start a business, it is best to focus on each month or at least the first month of your income plan. On some occasions, the predictions are tough to tell. Other aspects of your business plan, particularly the competitive analysis and market analysis, will help you create a picture of your financial summary. Most investors look at this summary as a relevant point when considering a partnership, which is why creating a detailed financial overview can lead to better opportunities for your business. Proformas will also play a part in your financial summary. For more on proformas, read our Cannabis Proformas for Dispensaries and Grows article and watch our YouTube video.
As you can see, there are seven relevant areas of your cannabis business plan. These are all based on your actual market position and your research about the market.
There are no promises that everything will be as you planned, but sometimes, the right analysis can show you some points that will cost you money in the future. At the same time, you will find out how you can profit from certain products or how you can position yourself for people to remember your brand and your products.
A cannabis business plan is vital because there is no better way to see your cannabis business’s real perspective.
What Else to Include in Your Cannabis Business Plan
There are also some other aspect to consider here. You must know what sort of cannabis business you want to run. If you plan to open a cannabis dispensary, which is what most cannabis entrepreneurs create a plan for, you’ll need the following information included in your cannabis business plan:
- Location details– When it comes to location, you need to comply with zoning laws in your state, country, and city. Most of the US areas have restrictions regarding opening a dispensary near schools, playgrounds, parks, churches, and even addiction treatment centers. This could be a huge turn off because city areas are often packed with these facilities, and you’ll need to measure the right distance from these areas. In Illinois, the distance must be 1000 feet, in California, it is 1,500 feet, while in Ohio, the distance is at least 600 feet.
- The list of products and services you plan to offer to your clients – If you still don’t know which products you want to deliver on the market, it is best to do market research and see what kind of products would be ideal for the area you wish to cover. Sometimes, the saturated market with one type of product won’t get you an advantage. You will need to offer something that people will see as valuable. Market research is a very essential step in creating a cannabis business plan with the products that will provide the market something distinctive and unique. It will also bring you more profit in the long run.
- Dispensary store management details – For opening a dispensary store and creating an effective cannabis business plan, you need to decide on the adequate roles and management activities. Answer the following questions. Who are the suppliers? How are you going to manage the inventory? All these points are essential if you want your business to operate daily, and you’ll need to know each detail of your dispensary store management. Sometimes, it is easy to create a business plan, but reality shows that some unexpected problems can pop up out of nowhere. For this reason, it is good to have a business protection plan next to your regular business plan.
- Summary of your daily working operations – This part could be very tricky because it seems easy. Your day-to-day working operations are all the activities you plan to manage during the day. If you prepare them all in advance, you’ll have a clear picture of your working hours, day-offs, schedule details, staff roles, and, most importantly–your financial benefits from all these activities at the end of the month. You can include this part in your cannabis business plan to show your business’s potential for 30 consecutive days in a year
- Funding details – No matter the business model you choose, the funding details will give your investors a clear understanding of how you are going to invest money in your business. For this part, you will need to know all the details about your operations during one day, month, and year of a fiscal period. If you know your daily operating expenses and costs, it will be easier for your investors to choose your business model and invest money in the idea you have to offer them. A dispensary is sometimes costlier to manage than a growth house, which is why the right financial analysis will help you determine what parts of the business need the most funding.
Want to Open a Craft Grow
How to Promote a Cannabis Business Plan
Now when you have a perfect cannabis business plan, it is time for promotion. This part is often neglected because people are more involved in planning than executing when they form a business.
It is best to know someone who can be an ideal investor. Or you can search for people who are interested in providing funding for the most promising startups in your area.
Show them your business plan and see how you can get funding for your idea. Local investors are often eager to see something unique and better than the rest have to offer.
You will get an advantage in the cannabis world if you tell people how your products will benefit the consumers. One kind of Sativa or Indica can completely change the market. Or your dispensary can offer some sort of service that will appeal to the public the most. Tell your investors why your business plan has the future and show them the program’s most relevant points.
You will get attention if you have a well-crafted business plan.
Think about all of your solutions and objectives. One detail can change the wheel and get you an investor willing to collaborate with you. It is all a result of proper planning and a little bit of luck. Rely on your determination to start a successful business, and you will see the results of your efforts.
Overall, a cannabis business plan can be created in multiple ways, but only a plan that shows how your business will look in detail will give you a real advantage.
Whom to Consult
Thomas Howard is a cannabis attorney and cannabis business advisor who can help you create a better picture of the future of your cannabis business. He also advocates for the cannabis industry and gives the right advice on how to comply with cannabis regulations in your state.
Cannabis Business Plan
Cannabis Business Plan A cannabis business plan is needed for any business looking to get started in the cannabis industry. A business plan is the blueprint to your cannabis business and it can truly make or break your application. Writing a business plan can be a…
Cannabis Proformas for Dispensaries and Grows
Cannabis Proformas for Dispensaries and Grows Cannabis proformas for dispensaries and grows are essential for your cannabis business plan. There are several proforma templates available online but what is a cannabis proforma and how can you make accurate assumptions…

Thomas Howard
Cannabis Lawyer
How to Run a Cannabis Co-Op
How to Run a Cannabis Co-op “How to run a cannabis co-op?” is a great question to ask yourself if you’re interested in a more equitable model of running your cannabis business. Cannabis cooperatives and collectives are gaining popularity – and for good reason! They’re…
How to Open A Cannabis Delivery Company in Massachusetts
Big news for recreational delivery licenses came out of the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) from its monthly public meeting on May 7th. Most significantly, the CCC voted to move forward with recreational delivery-only licenses and delivery endorsements…
New Zealand Cannabis Legalization
Cannabis Legalization Vote Coming to New Zealand Cannabis legalization in New Zealand may be here before too long! On Saturday September 19, 2020, New Zealand may vote to legalize cannabis by referendum. The people get to decide in a non-binding vote whether they…
International Church of Cannabis
International Church of Cannabis At the International Church of Cannabis, Elevationists gather to consume cannabis and experience community. An Elevationist uses cannabis to, “reveal the best version of self, discover a creative voice, and enrich the community with…
Need A Cannabis Attorney?
Our cannabis business attorneys are also business owners. They can help you structure your business or help protect it from overly burdensome regulations.
Error: Contact form not found.
The post Cannabis Business Plan appeared first on Cannabis Business Attorney – Tom Howard – Legal Services for Marijuana & Hemp Companies.