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How to create a business innovation plan

Updated: July 2025, 9

This page explains the business innovation plan.

We have put together an easy-to-understand summary of the overview, target users, and approval application process, so please use it as a reference.

　

　

Eligible persons

Companies and individuals who are subject to business innovation plans as specified businesses

The industry in which the main business is conducted	Employee Standards (Number of regular employees)
Manufacturing industry etc.	500 or fewer
Wholesale trade	400 or fewer
Service industry	300 or fewer
Retail trade	300 or fewer

Associations and federations that are subject to business innovation plans as specified businesses

Unions and federations	Requirements for becoming a small or medium-sized enterprise
Business cooperatives, small business cooperatives, Cooperative Association, Fisheries Processing Industry Cooperative, Fisheries Processing Cooperative Association, Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chamber of Commerce and Industry Federation, Shopping District Promotion Association, Shopping District Promotion Association	Nothing in particular
Life hygiene trade association, life hygiene small trade association, Federation of Public Health Trade Associations, Sake Breweries Association, Federation of Sake Brewers Associations, Central Federation of Sake Brewers Associations, Liquor Dealers Association, Liquor Dealers Association Federation, Central Association of Liquor Dealers, Domestic Shipping Association, Domestic Shipping Association, Technology Research Association	More than two-thirds of the direct or indirect members Being a specified small and medium-sized enterprise

the purpose

A business plan is a process to move from the current situation to the desired future state."Signpost"It will be.

　

Creating a business innovation plan is useful in the following cases:

• I have a specific product or plan, but I don't know how to develop it.
• I want to review my finances
• I want to take advantage of support measures from the national and local governments.
• I want to improve my company's structure
• I want to start a new business and expand my business.
• I want new knowledge and ideas
• I want to take the next step but I don't know how
• I want to stop and reassess the business.

Benefit

Some of the benefits of creating a business transformation plan include:

• The approval is from the prefecture based on the Small and Medium Enterprise Management Strengthening Act, so it can demonstrate public credibility.
• Ability to create business plans and manage operations in a planned manner
• Able to explain initiatives concisely within the company and to business partners
• A system can be established to pass on know-how and experience to successors and employees.
• Breaking through the stagnation of business and company
• You can get a second opinion

Make use of

By having your business innovation plan approved, you can utilize it in the following systems.

• Special provisions for credit guarantees
• Japan Finance Corporation special interest rate loan system
• Advanced financing system
• Debt guarantee by the Food Marketing Rationalization Promotion Organization
• Standby Credit Facility
• Cross-border loan system
• Special provisions of the Small and Medium Enterprise Credit Insurance Act
• Support measures by Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI)
• Investment from startup support funds
• Investment from Small and Medium Enterprise Investment and Development Co., Ltd.
• Hands-on support project (test marketing)

　

For details about each system, please see "Business Innovation Plan Guidebook""Mirasapo Plus: Subsidies and comprehensive support site for small and medium-sized enterprises""J-Net21, a portal site for supporting small and medium-sized businessesFor more information, see "

　

Consultation for planning and implementation

Certified management innovation support organization

Possess specialized knowledge in finance and accounting, as well as practical experience in supporting small and medium-sized enterprises.Nationally accredited institution.

We can provide guidance and advice on analyzing management resources, financial status, etc., formulating business plans, and implementing business operations.

Support Administrative Scrivener Corporation is certified as a certified business innovation support organization.

Prefectural Small and Medium Enterprise Support Center

They are located in each prefecture and designated city.

Project managers, who are private sector personnel with knowledge of the overall management of small and medium-sized enterprises, work in cooperation with small and medium-sized enterprise-related organizations and small and medium-sized enterprise support organizations.

They provide one-stop support services, including consultation services, ongoing expert dispatch, and information provision.

General support center

This is a management consultation office set up by the national government in each prefecture.

Our experts will propose appropriate solutions for various management issues, such as increasing sales and improving business operations, and follow up until results are achieved.

Organization for Small & Medium Enterprises and Regional Innovation

They are installed in nine blocks across the country.

They provide a variety of support services, including providing expert consultation services, dispatching experts, and providing policy information.

Procedures for obtaining approval

1	Contact the relevant prefectural office
2	Preparation of necessary documents
3	Submitting applications to prefectural departments and local government agencies
4	Approval from the prefectural governor and head of a national local government agency

　

　

Description

A business innovation plan must include the following items:

① Management innovationaims

② Management innovationIndicators showing the degree of improvement in management

③ Management innovationContent and implementation period

④To implement management innovationAmount of funds required and method of raising them

⑤ In the case where a specified business operator intends to impose a contribution on its direct or indirect members to cover the costs of testing and research related to business innovation,Standards of assessment

　Specified business operators are limited to those listed in Article 2, Paragraph 5, Items 7 and 8.

What does "significant improvement in management" mean?

Management innovation is"By conducting new business activities, businesses aim to significantly improve their management."Is defined as.

①Growth rate of "value added" or "value added per capita"

②Growth rate of "total salary payments"

　

	Growth rate of "value added" or "value added per capita"	Growth rate of "total salary payments"
If the project period is three years	9% or more	4.5% or more
If the project period is four years	12% or more	6% or more
If the project period is 5 years	15% or more	7.5% or more

　

Added value

Added value = operating income + personnel costs + depreciation

To calculate the value added per person, adjust the number of people according to the number of hours worked.

　

The definition of the number of employees must be consistent with the definition of added value.

　

Possess specialized knowledge in finance and accounting, as well as practical experience in supporting small and medium-sized enterprises.Nationally accredited institution.

　

Total salary payment

Total salary payment = Executive compensation + Salary + Wages + Bonus + Various allowances

"Various allowances" include overtime pay, holiday pay, family (dependent) allowances, housing allowances, etc., but do not include allowances that are not considered salary income (such as retirement allowances) or welfare expenses.

　

What is "new business activity"?

By creating a business innovation plan,Goals and priority issues of the "New Initiative"became clear,Progress CheckThis allows us to operate our business functionally.

①New product development or production

②Development or provision of new services

③ProductIntroduction of new production or sales methods

④ServicesIntroducing a new delivery method

⑤TechnologyResearch and development and utilization of its resultsOther new business activities

　

For individual small and medium-sized enterprises"New business activities"If,When utilizing technology or methods already adopted by other companiesHowever, in principle it is subject to approval.

① The status of adoption of relevant technologies by small and medium-sized enterprises in each industry
② For technologies that are highly regional, the status of adoption of the technology by other companies in the same industry in the same region

　

The introduction of technologies, methods, etc. that are already widely used will not be subject to approval.

　

　

Form No. 13

Fill in the required information.

　

別表１

Implementation system

If your company is collaborating with universities, public research institutes, other companies, etc. to innovate its business, please describe the collaborators and the details of the collaboration.

Theme of the business innovation plan

Please provide a brief summary of the management innovation.

Planning Period

3 to 5 year periodPlease define and write down your plan.

　

The planning period is"Research and development period"と"Project period"If you are separated,Total period of 3 to 8 yearsPlease specify the above and provide a breakdown.

　

Contents related to the implementation of management innovation

Please consider the key points and necessity of the new initiative and provide a detailed description of the new initiative in accordance with the type of new business activity.

　

If you are conducting business jointly with a foreign related corporation, etc., please specify the role of the foreign related corporation, etc.

Target growth rate at the end of the plan

Please enter the number of years of the business period, the growth rate of added value or added value per person, and the growth rate of total salary payments.

　

The growth rate is calculated as follows:Rounded to the second decimal placePlease describe.

　

別表２

number

1、2、1－1、1－2、1－1－1、1－1－2というように、Associate action itemsPlease write it down.

Evaluation criteria

Quantitative standards should be set for things that can be quantified, but qualitative standards are also acceptable.

Evaluation Frequency

Please state how often or when your company will evaluate the progress of the plan: daily, weekly, monthly, bimonthly, six months, one year, six months later, one year later, etc.

Implementation period

When to start the action itemsQuarterlyPlease write it in.

　

"1-1" represents the first quarter of the first year's plan, and "2-4" represents the fourth quarter of the second year's plan.

Achievements

This is intended to make it easier for applicants to track the implementation status of their business innovation plans once they have been implemented.

　

Appendix 3

Please enter planned figures for 3 to 8 years into the future, depending on the planning period.

"Value added": Operating profit + labor costs + depreciation
"Value added per person": Value added ÷ number of employees
"Operating profit": Gross profit (sales revenue - cost of sales) - selling, general and administrative expenses
"Total salary payment": Executive compensation + salary + wages + bonuses + various allowances

Calculation method for added value, etc.

• Include expenses for part-time workers and dispatched workers in the number of employees and labor costs
• Including lease costs in depreciation expenses
• Adjusting the number of employees based on working hours

Business and financial plans

• Please fill in the financial statements from the last three years.
• If the company has been in business for less than three years, please fill in as much information as possible.
• Funding amounts should only be stated for the duration of the plan.

　

Appendix 4

Capital Investment Plan

In the case of a union or group,For each participating memberPlease prepare Schedule 4.

　

Please enter the new machinery and equipment you will be introducing to advance your business.

　

Please use square brackets [ ] to write items purchased overseas by foreign affiliated corporations, etc.

Working capital plan

Please enter the amount of working capital required for your overseas business in brackets (foreign affiliates, etc., are included in the figure, and overseas branches are included in the figure).

　

Appendix 5

For the "Assessment Standard," please provide specific information such as production quantity (amount), number of employees, capital contribution, etc.

　

Schedule 6

Please circle "Yes" for the support measures you would like to receive.

　

Appendix 7

Among those who answered "Yes," companies that have increased their added value or added value per employee by 3% or more per year and total wage payments by 1.5% or more per year may be featured in the case study collection.

　

　

Depending on the prefecture, you may need to submit other documents in addition to the application documents listed below, so please check with the prefecture to which you are submitting.

　

If multiple small and medium-sized enterprises, associations, etc. are applying jointly,Prepare documents for each individual participating small and medium-sized enterpriseand submit it to the application destination.

　

If the application is submitted to a ministry or a local bureau and the project scope spans multiple ministries and agencies, the application must be prepared jointly by the heads of each ministry and agency.

When applying as a single small or medium-sized business

-One original copy of Form 13, Schedules 1 to 4, and Schedules 6 and 7

Schedule 5 does not need to be filled out.

-One copy of the above

・Small and medium-sized enterprisesArticles of Incorporation

・Small and medium-sized enterprisesBusiness report, balance sheet, and income statement for the last two periods

If you do not have these, a document outlining the business activities for the past year

　

When multiple small and medium-sized enterprises apply jointly

Representative companyUp to 3 companiesOnce you have decided, please prepare the following documents:

-One original copy of Form 13, Schedules 1 to 4, and Schedules 6 and 7

In Form 13, please fill in the address, name, and representative name of the representative company.

　

If there are multiple representative companies, please fill out the application form in the joint names of all companies.

　

Attachments 1, 2, 6, and 7 should be compiled for the joint application form and completed by the representative company.

　

Regarding "Value added," "Value added per person," and "Total salary payments" in the "Indicators showing the degree of improvement in management" column of Appendix 1, please calculate the indicators for the entire joint application form and enter them in Appendix 1.

　

For Appendix 3 and 4, please fill out each individual company and write the name of the participating company on the right side.

-One copy of the above

・Small and medium-sized enterprisesArticles of Incorporation

・Small and medium-sized enterprisesBusiness report, balance sheet, and income statement for the last two periods

If you do not have these, a document outlining the business activities for the past year

- Company name, address, representative name, and contact informationList of individual participating companies

　

When applying as a single association

If there are no members participating in the plan, there is no need to submit a separate sheet for the members.

-One original copy of Form No. 13 and Appendices 1 to 7

In Form 13, please fill in the union's address, name, and name of the representative.

　

Attachments 1, 2, 5, 6, and 7 should be compiled for the joint application form and completed by the representative company.

　

Regarding the "Value added," "Value added per person," and "Total salary payments" in the "Indicators showing the degree of improvement in management" column of Appendix 1, please calculate the indicators for all members of the participating union and enter them in Appendix 1.

　

For Appendices 3 and 4, please fill out each participating association and association member, etc., and enter the company names of the participating association members, etc.

-One copy of the above

・UnionArticles of Incorporation

・UnionBusiness report, balance sheet, and income statement for the last two periods

If you do not have these, a document outlining the business activities for the past year

- Company name, address, representative name, and contact informationList of individual participating companies

　

When multiple associations apply jointly

Represented unionUp to 3 unionsOnce you have decided, please prepare the following documents:

-One original copy of Form No. 13 and Appendices 1 to 7

In Form 13, please fill in the address, name, and representative name of the representative union.

　

If there are multiple representative unions, please fill out the application form in their joint names.

　

Attachments 1, 2, 5, 6, and 7 should be compiled for the joint application form and completed by the representative company.

　

Regarding the "Value added," "Value added per person," and "Total salary payments" in the "Indicators showing the degree of improvement in management" column of Appendix 1, please calculate the indicators for all members of the participating union and enter them in Appendix 1.

　

For Appendices 3 and 4, please fill out each participating association and association member, etc., and enter the company names of the participating association members, etc.

-One copy of the above

・UnionArticles of Incorporation

・UnionBusiness report, balance sheet, and income statement for the last two periods

If you do not have these, a document outlining the business activities for the past year

- Company name, address, representative name, and contact informationList of individual participating companies

　

　

In the case of an application made by or jointly by individual specified business operators

Applicant		Applicant
In the case of a single company		Headquarters
In the case of multiple companies jointly/one representative company		Representative company head office location
Joint venture with multiple companies / In the case of multiple representative companies	The head office location is In the case of the same local bureau jurisdiction	Regional bureau of the ministry in charge of the business or a local bureau of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
	The head office location is If not within the jurisdiction of the same local bureau	Ministry or agency in charge of the business or the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency

In the case of an application by a union, etc.

Applicant		Applicant
In the case of a single association, etc.	If the business location is within the prefecture where the office is located	Prefecture where the office is located
	If the business location is in multiple prefectures, including the prefecture where the office is located	The prefecture is included in the jurisdiction Inter-Ministerial Regional Bureau or a local bureau of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
	If your business is located nationwide	Ministry or agency in charge of the business or the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency
In the case of multiple partnerships or other joint ventures /1 representative company	The place of business is the representative union, etc. In the case of the office location prefecture	Prefecture where the office is located
	Including the prefecture where the office is located When multiple prefectures are under the jurisdiction of the same local bureau	Regional bureau of the ministry in charge of the business or a local bureau of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
	Including the prefecture where the office is located When multiple prefectures are not under the jurisdiction of the same local bureau	Ministry or agency in charge of the business or the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency

　

　

　

　

Such a person"Support Administrative Scrivener Corporation"Please consult

　

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