Day 1 (5 hours) 1. Introduction & Goals (30 min)

• Introduction of instructor and participants
• Needs and expectations
• Seminar objectives
• Overview of the trade market

2. The Concept of a Business Plan (30 min)

• What it is & why it’s necessary in trade
• When we need it (startup, growth, investors)
• Examples of commercial businesses

3. Structure of a Business Plan (1 hour 30 min) Detailed presentation of each section:

• Executive Summary
• Business Description
• Market & Customer Analysis
• Competition Analysis
• Marketing & Sales Strategy
• Organizational Structure
• Financial data (KPIs: profit margins, stock, liquidity)
• Appendix

4. Special Sections for Trade (45 min)

• Inventory & supplier management
• Differentiation techniques
• E-commerce – integration into the business plan

5. Break (15 min) 6. Tools and Information Sources (1 hour)

• Market research (statistics, reports)
• Templates & software
• Data sources (ELSTAT, industry associations)
• Financial forecasting tools

7. First Practical Exercise (30 min)

• Mini case study: brief presentation of a commercial idea
• Identification of key sections
• Group discussion

Day 2 (5 hours) 1. Recap – Questions (15 min) 2. Strategies for Growth in Trade (45 min)

• Customer base development (B2B & B2C)
• Distribution network & logistics
• Expansion strategies (franchises, new products)

3. Financial Planning (1 hour 15 min)

• Cost analysis, cash flow, profit margin
• Scenarios (optimistic/realistic/negative)
• Important trade KPIs (stock turnover, credit terms)
• Example of financial forecasts

4. Break (15 min) 5. Tips for an Effective Business Plan (45 min)

• Tailoring to target audience
• Common mistakes & how to avoid them
• Use of presentation tools (PowerPoint, infographics)

6. Practical Exercise – Group Work (1 hour 45 min)

• Groups of 2-4 people
• Creation of a mini business plan (3-5 pages)
• Short presentation (5-minute pitch per group)
• Comments & feedback

7. Final Review & Closing (30 min)

• Questions & discussion
• Summary of key points
• Brief evaluation
• Provision of additional resources & materials (PDFs, templates)