What to Include in the Appendix
The main body of your business plan should present a compelling and coherent story about your company. The appendix is the place for supplementary information that would disrupt the plan’s flow with its length or technical nature, but that might be of interest to your audience nonetheless.
Table of Contents
Typical Appendix Content
- Complete résumés of senior executives
- Product samples, photos, or detailed descriptions
- Advertisements
- Press coverage
- Site plans and photos
- Credit reports
- Lease and legal documentation
- Customer contracts
- Letters of support from references
- Estimates from suppliers
Appendix Tips
- Don’t bury any essential information in the appendix: Realistically, most readers of your business plan will never make it all the way to the appendix, so be sure to include all vital information within the plan itself.
- Connect the dots: Read through your business plan to see whether you mention any documents that readers may want to explore further. If so, you should include these documents in the appendix for them to peruse. For example, your business plan might summarize a key contract and then note that the full text of the contract can be found in the appendix.
- Less is more: Exercise some restraint when compiling the appendix, and include only items that are directly related to claims that you make in the plan. As a rule of thumb, the appendix should be shorter than the plan itself.
- Go without an appendix entirely: Feel free to omit the appendix altogether unless prospective lenders, investors, or other key parties need certain information included.