Bakery business plan template

Download this bakery business plan template in PDF or Word format, or tailor it to your project directly in our business plan software.

Discover our bakery business plan template

Our bakery business plan template gives you the structure to write a professional plan

Not accustomed to writing business plans? Our bakery business template will turn a typically challenging process into a total breeze.

Modelled on a complete business plan of a bakery in France, our template features both the financial forecast and the written part that presents the project, its team, the local market and the business strategy implemented by the management.

Cast your eyes on this template to achieve a better understanding of what your bank and investors would like to see, so that you can create a business plan that meets their expectations.

bakery businesss plan template
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How to use this bakery business plan template

Edit the bakery business plan template online, or download it

There are 3 ways to use this template:

  • Edit it online: you can adapt this template to your business idea by changing the text or the financial forecast directly in our business planning software
  • Download in PDF: if you're just after a little inspiration, you can download the bakery business plan template in PDF to read over it
  • Download in Word format: want to edit your plan on Word? Simply export the bakery business plan template to Ms Word (.docx) format
online editor for bakery business plan template

Bakery business plan template content

This template includes a complete bakery business plan example, with a financial forecast and the following sections:

  1. Executive summary: the executive summary gives the reader a clear and concise overview of your business idea
  2. Company: this section lays out the structure of your business, including its location, management team and legal form
  3. Products and services: here, you'll give an overview of the selection of bread, pastries, sandwiches and drinks offered by your bakery
  4. Market analysis: the market analysis is where you’ll demonstrate that there is a strong demand for your products and services through a thorough assessment of the industry (customer profile, hot trends, regulation, competition, etc.)
  5. Strategy: this section highlights the company's game plan when it comes to pricing, marketing and mitigating risks along the way
  6. Operations: this step lays out the company's operational organisation, including the recruitment plan
  7. Financial plan: the financial plan includes a table of sources & uses (initial funding plan), and complete financial statements (P&L, balance sheet and cash flow statement)
  8. Appendices: this part provides the opportunity to include multiple financial appendices generated by our software (debt maturity profile, monthly financial statements, financial analysis, etc.)
cover page and table of contents for the bakery business plan template by The Business Plan Shop
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Executive summary of the bakery's business plan

The executive summary gives the reader a clear and concise overview of your business idea.

Our bakery business plan example's executive summary is formed of the following subsections:

  1. Business overview: in this subsection, we outline who the bakery founders are, what legal form they've chosen for the business, and the rationale behind the choice of their location
  2. Market overview: in this subsection, we summarize the conclusions of the market analysis performed by the bakery's owners and explain who they might target (our bakery business plan template targets people who live and work near our location)
  3. Financial highlights: in this subsection, we give an overview of the forecasted financial performance of the bakery over the first 3 years of operation
  4. Our ask: in this subsection, we outline the amount of financing required to start the bakery and how it's going to be funded (the founders are seeking a bank loan to start their bakery)
executive summary for bakery business plan sample

Company overview included in our bakery business plan sample

This section lays out the structure of your business, including its location, management team and legal form.

Our bakery business plan template's company section is formed of the following subsections:

  1. Structure & Ownership: in this subsection, we outline who the bakery shareholders are, what legal form they've chosen for the business
  2. Location: in this subsection, we present the area surrounding the location chosen for the business and the layout and main features of the premises
  3. Management Team: in this subsection, we give an overview of the background of each of the bakery's founders and explain how they met and why they decided to start a company together
company overview included in bakery business plan template
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Products and services offered by the bakery

The products and services section is where you will present the selection of breads, pastries, sandwiches, drinks sold, as well as a special occassion service offered by your bakery.

In our bakery business plan template products and services section, we cover:

  • Bread: several varities ranging from traditional bread like baguettes to bread with higher value added, such as seeded or salt-free bread
  • Breakfast pastries: a range of traditional pastries including pain au chocolat, croissant and pépito
  • Pastries: a variety of French pastry classics such as millefeuille, salambo and chocolate éclair as well as original creations with unique flavours
  • Sandwiches: a selection of traditional baguette sandwiches, as well as sandwiches with wholemeal bread, brown bread, and wraps
  • Drinks: a selection of cold drinks including mineral water and soft drinks will be available for purchase individually or as part of our lunch deal with sandwiches
  • Special ocassion service: orders can be placed for custom cakes such as mounted wedding cakes for any special ocassion
product and services description of the bakery business plan example

Market analysis for the opening of the bakery

The market analysis is where you’ll demonstrate that there is a strong demand for your products and services through a thorough assessment of the industry (customer profile, hot trends, regulation, competition, etc.)

Our bakery business plan example's market analysis section is formed of the following subsections:

  1. Demographics and Segmentation: in this subsection, we explore the market in depth. We look at the supply and demand sides both at the national and local level, analyse the hot trends perceived by the founders, and the key statistics that will help the founders build their positioning
  2. Target market: in this subsection, our founders explain who they view as their ideal customers (our bakery business plan template targets people who live and work near our location) and why they chose to target them
  3. Competition: in this subsection, we take a look at the direct (bakeries in the same street as ours selling similar products) and indirect (other businesses selling bread and sandwiches such as fast-food restaurants and food stores) local competition to ensure we have a differentiated positioning and that the market is large enough to accommodate the arrival of a new bakery
  4. Regulation: in this subsection, we give an overview of the main regulation applicable to our bakery
market analysis section of the bakery business plan template
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Setting the strategy for our bakery

This section highlights the company's game plan when it comes to pricing, marketing and mitigating risks along the way.

Our bakery business plan template strategy section is formed of the following subsections:

  1. Pricing: in this subsection, we explain how we set the prices of our main categories of products (bread, pastries, sandwiches, drinks and custom orders) and the rationale behind our choice
  2. Marketing plan: in this subsection, we explain what action we'll put in place to build awareness and loyalty among our bakery customers
  3. Milestones: in this subsection, we give an overview of the main goals we set for ourselves for the next 3 years
  4. Risks and Mittigants: in this subsection, we perform an assessment of the medium and long-term risks that could jeopardize the financial viability of our bakery and outline how we intend to mitigate them
bakery business plan example: stragtegy section

Operations section of the bakery business plan template

This part lays out the company's operational organisation, including the recruitment plan.

Our bakery business plan example's operations section is formed of the following subsections:

  1. Personnel plan: in this subsection, we explain what our opening hours will be and explain the responsabilities of each of our bakery staff member
  2. Key assets and IP: in this subsection, we list the assets and intellectual property rights which are critical to our business operations and explain how we will secure and protect each of these
  3. Suppliers: in this subsection, we give an overview of the main suppliers we will use our what commercial terms have been negotiated with them
bakery business plan template: operations section
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Financial plan included in our bakery business plan template

This section presents the expected financial performance of the bakery over the next 3 years.

Our bakery business plan example's financial plan is formed of the following subsections:

  1. Start-up funding: in this subsection, we list the cost of each item required to launch the bakery
  2. Important assumptions: in this subsection, we explain the methodology and the main assumptions used to build the bakery's financial forecast
  3. Sales forecast: in this subsection, we detail the expected revenues and growth rate for our bakery in the coming years
  4. Cost structure: in this subsection, we list all the expenses required for our bakery to operate smoothly
  5. Projected Profit & Loss statement: in this subsection, we analyse our forecasted P&L and comment on the expected profitability of our bakery over the next 3 years
  6. Projected cash flow statement: in this subsection, we analyse the expected cash generation of the bakery
  7. Projected balance sheet: in this section we give an analysis of the liquidity and solvability implied from our balance sheet
bakery business plan forecasted P&L

Appendices of the bakery business plan template

This part provides the opportunity to include multiple financial appendices generated by our software (debt maturity profile, monthly financial statements, financial analysis, etc.).

Our bakery business plan template's appendices include:

  1. A Maturity profile chart showing the principal repayments of their loans over the next 3 years
  2. A monthly cash flow forecast: showing how much cash is being generated or consumed each month over the first 3 years of operations
bakery business plan template: monthly cash flow forecast

Bakery business plan template sample

Executive Summary

Business Overview

Au Pain D'Antan will be a bakery located in Hérouville St Clair and led by Samuel C. and Victoria D.

Au Pain D'Antan will offer different types of bread and sandwiches in addition to quality pastries. We will also make custom orders for special occasions (such as weddings, baptisms, birthdays, and corporate events) for our customers.

Our bakery will be located at 25 avenue de Bruxelles in Hérouville St Clair, a commuter town on the outskirts of the city of Caen.

Partners Samuel C. and Victoria D. have the qualifications and experience necessary to set up the business.

Samuel C. graduated with a Professional Baker's Certificate and has 10 years of experience in the bakery industry.

Victoria D. holds a Master's degree in pastry making and has 11 years of experience in the field.

The two partners met through a professional online network 2 years ago and thought carefully about their professional collaboration and business idea before getting started.

Au Pain d'Antan is a limited company, to which Victoria D. will be the CEO and Samuel C. will assume the role of Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Samuel C. owns 40% of the company, while Victoria owns 60%.

Market Overview

Domestic Market

Bread is a diet staple for many within France - so it is certainly not about to go out of fashion.

In fact, a 2016 survey by Qualiquanti reveals that 92% of the French population have bread in their home at all times, while 52% of respondents feel they simply can't do without it.

Bakeries reign as the preferred place of purchase for bread, with French people making 52% of their bread purchases there.

With an estimated average price of €0.92, the baguette is affordable and remains one of the most popular food items purchased by the French.

There's no doubting the demand for bread in France. But with 35,000 artisan bakeries (about one bakery for every 2,000 inhabitants) and 6 billion baguettes being baked in France each year, the supply is meeting the demand.  

The bakery offer is evolving: with bread purchases counting for 45.2% of bakery sales, the range of baked goods being sold is expanding. 

The bakery is no longer just a place to buy bread, as it is fast becoming a go-to place for lunch. Bakers are also developing their bakery products to improve their turnover. 

According to Fiducial, a traditional bakery makes an average annual turnover of around €386,000, with the average customer spending €4.20 per visit.

However, the turnover depends strongly on the size of the business. According to the Observatoire de la Boulangerie, a bakery with an average staff of 9 employees, including 2 apprentices, sees a turnover between €300,000 and €450,000 (excl. tax) per year.

However, according to boulangerie.org, the average turnover for a bakery with an average workforce of 3 to 2 employees is around €273,000 (excl. tax).

In terms of how the sales are distributed between different types of products, in addition to the bread sales mentioned above, pastries, sandwiches, and savoury products now make up almost 50% of sales. 

64% of bakeries in France are located in urban areas. On average, these bakeries are run by couples around the age of 47. With a wave of retirements expected within the next ten years or so, the market will renew itself, as these businesses will be taken over by new owners.

Local Market

In 2019, Hérouville St Clair had 23,319 inhabitants and 9 bakeries - bringing it under the national average of one bakery per 2,000 inhabitants. 

The biggest age group in the city is 20 - 24 year olds. Hérouville-St-Clair's young population can be explained in particular by the presence of students from the University of Caen.

Its proximity to the city of Caen also provides an opportunity for businesses to target professionals travelling to the Caen agglomeration, and also in the opposite direction. 

The town of Hérouville-St-Clair is a commuter town, popular amongst families and young professionals, so a bakery would well serve the needs of those living there.

Financial Highlights

Au Pain D'Antan should be profitable in its first year of operation.

We expect to achieve sales of €268,781 and EBITDA of €35,837 (and 13.33% of margin) in Year 1.

We believe that we will then be able to grow our business thanks to word of mouth and the actions set out in our marketing plan.

On the basis of the current plan, we should achieve sales of €275,661 in year 2 (with 2.56% of growth) and €283,501 in year 3 (with 2.84% of growth).

We anticipate to generate EBITDA of €48,202 (and 17.00% of margin) in year 3. The improvement in EBITDA margin between year 1 and year 3 is due to a better absorption of fixed costs following the increase in sales.

We expect a positive cash flow throughout the entire plan.

The cash flow generated by the business will be sufficient to cover our loan repayments while providing leeway for us to renew our equipment and deal with any contingencies.

Our Ask

Our initial financing requirement amounts to €115,000. The partners plan to contribute €40,000 (35% of the total), and we would like to obtain a loan of €75,000.

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Bakery Business Plan Template FAQ

What is a bakery business plan and do I need one?

A bakery business plan is a written document that sets out the commercial, operational and financial objectives of the company over the next 3 to 5 years.

It consists of two main parts:

  • A written part that presents, in detail, your bakery business, the team, your strategy, and your medium-term objectives.
  • A financial forecast that highlights the expected profitability of the bakery and the initial funding requirements.

The lack of business planning is one of the main reasons why more than 50% of startups fail within 5 years. If you're starting a bakery, writing a business plan is a must-have in order to reduce the risk of failure of your project.

Business plans are also required by most lenders and investors in order to secure financing, therefore a business plan is also highly recommended if you're seeking a loan or equity investment for your bakery.

How do I write a business plan for a bakery and is it difficult?

Writing a bakery business plan without The Business Plan Shop can be both error-prone and time-consuming - whether you're new to entrepreneurship or experienced:

  • You'll need to research the structure of a business plan, what to include in each section, and what key elements investors and lenders expect to see
  • You may encounter writer's block (especially if it's the first time you're writing a business plan for your bakery)
  • You'll need to create a financial forecast on a spreadsheet which requires a solid understanding of accounting and financial modelling in order to be done without error
  • You'll need to spend hours formatting financial data on Excel or Sheets before it's ready to integrate into your business plan
  • Any updates to your bakery business plan or financial forecast will need to be done manually

Luckily for you, The Business Plan Shop's online platform and bakery business plan template guide you through every stage of writing a business plan, so that you can spend more time managing and growing your business instead.

Our editor follows a best-in-class structure for professional business plans. Each section and subsection includes examples and instructions to help you, while our business plan templates provide further inspiration if you're stuck.

Our financial forecasting software helps you create a forecast and integrate it into your business plan with ease. Anytime you update your data, your business plan automatically updates.

And with our forecasting software all the calculations are done for you, without errors.

What is the budget for a bakery and how much does it cost to get started?

The budget to start and run a bakery will depend on the exact concept and location.

A small bakery with no seating selling a smaller range of traditional baked goods requires limited investment. A bigger place offering seating, a full menu and table service will require a larger upfront investment and more staff to operate.

A bakery that offers home delivery using third party providers would also incur further costs such as the need to integrate with an online ordering system.

As an example, in our bakery business plan template the total initial funding requirement amounted to €115,000 (c. $125,000 or £100,000), with the founders contributing €40,000 (c. $43,000 or £35,000).

In order to assess the exact budget for your bakery idea, you need to do a financial forecast using a financial projection tool such as the one we offer.

Is The Business Plan Shop the best bakery business plan template for me?

The package we offer at The Business Plan Shop goes way beyond a simple blank template you need to fill. With our platform you get:

  • Access to one of the best business plan software on the market
  • Access to our bakery business plan template which contains a complete example of a written business plan and financial forecast to start a bakery
  • Access to our entire business plan templates library - giving you dozens of examples to take inspiration from
  • Access to our financial planning and analysis platform so that you can track the actual performance of your business against what you had planned in your business plan and re-plan easily

But you shouldn't take our word for it: try our solution for free and make your own opinion!

How does the free trial of The Business Plan Shop work?

The free trial enables you to try the software for free during 7 days in order to verify that it meets your requirements before buying.

Some features are limited during the free trial, the main limits are:

  • You can only create one business plan
  • The financials of the first year are visible, but data for other years are hidden
  • You can export your plan in PDF but not in Word or CSV
  • No access to our business plan templates

You can create your account and start your free trial here.

How much does The Business Plan Shop’s bakery business plan template cost?

Access to our template is included with all our paid subscriptions.

Please visit our pricing page to learn about this in more detail.

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