Business Plan: Supporting Documentation
What is supporting documentation?
Supporting documentation is the place to include detailed materials that would clutter the main body of the plan but are important for lenders and partners to see. Typical items include resumes of key team members, market research data, contracts, licenses, permits, credit histories, tax returns, product photos, and sample marketing materials. These documents back up your projections, management qualifications, and operational plans with concrete evidence.
How is it helpful?
Including supporting documentation can provide tangible evidence that validates the claims made in the main sections, demonstrating the team's qualifications, financial stability, legal compliance, and market readiness to lenders or investors. By offering this backup whether historical performance metrics, third-party validations, or visual proofs the documentation reduces perceived risks, answers potential questions upfront, and builds confidence in the business's ability to execute its plans effectively.
Key considerations
By organizing and labeling these attachments clearly, the Appendix adds leverage to the rest of your plan. Readers who want to dig deeper can review full research reports, signed agreements, and compliance documents that validate claims made in earlier sections. This level of thoroughness provides additional context, demonstrates professionalism, and builds confidence that the business is well prepared, transparent, and ready for funding.