Starting with a sample music store business plan can save you some time, but it doesn’t mean you can follow the sample blindly. There are certain areas you must change radically, while there are others that may require only superficial customization. What to UseThe basic start up costs categories for a music store will be relatively similar to your sample plan, assuming it was well researched However, the costs for each item will need some adjustment to reflect the size of your store, the local price situation, and when you plan to launch (inflation may have driven up costs since the writing of the sample plan, for example).  The marketing ideas for one local music store may be applicable to your store. Online and print advertising are generally important, as well as periodic promotions or sales to gain new customers. Loyalty programs to encourage repeat purchases are also a way to build a local following. The financial model, again, if it is crafted well, should save you a great deal of time in creating financial statements and summaries for your plan. By adjusting assumptions related to your sales per day and average sale price, you should be able to project revenue. By simply adjusting the cost of sales and your key operating costs (rent, salaries, marketing, etc. ) you should then have a complete set of financial statements ready for inclusion in the plan. What to LoseOn the other hand, certain sections will have to be written from scratch, although a sample plan may give you an idea of the kind of information to include. The competitors for your store will be specific to your location, although online competitors may be a threat to detail as well. The management team section must draw from your biography and those of your key team members to present a picture of leadership capable of managing the operations, sales, marketing, human resources, and financials of the store. Much more will require customization to reflect the local conditions you will deal with.