Business Plan Study
The foundation for our decision workshop.
It brings together the key elements we’ve developed so far, to help us review, align, and decide.
Purpose and Scope
This is not a business plan. It’s a structured working document designed to support discussions with advisors and members within our core team. The goal is to clarify and test key components of the business model before creating a roadmap to a professional pitch deck.
What we need to align
Products and Services
What we offer and to whom.
Revenue Models
How we generate income.
Transaction Flows
The customer and supplier journey from initial contact to payment and delivery.
Organization & Key Roles
The competencies and roles needed within the team.
Financial Needs and Assumptions
Capital requirements and cost structure.
Legal Documents
JV model and contract templates.
What we need to strengthen
Create internal alignment before execution
We need a shared understanding of the model to avoid fragmented decisions later.
Build a solid foundation for collaboration
A clear structure helps us coordinate efforts across tech, business, and communication.
Clarify key assumptions
By surfacing our assumptions early, we can test and refine them before going public.
Avoid working in silos
Alignment reduces parallel efforts and conflicting interpretations of our goals.
Enable contribution from everyone
When we share the same map, everyone can contribute from their area of expertise.
Speed up decision-making
Agreeing on the core logic now will save time when we scale, build, or fundraise.
The perfect flow
We want FSSD to be accessible to everyone. Our idea is designed to secure and validate data, reach users faster, establish clear collaborations, ensure high-quality education and training and to develop products that drive profitability with transparent transactions for every partner.
products from fSSD Global
FSSD Global offers two core products: certification and quality assurance provided by regional NGOs, and the Dashboard, which includes a marketplace with external products from FSSD Global LTD.
Certificate & Monitoring
Consultant firms can be certified FSSD consultants. It provides them with the license to market and sell FSSD Dashboard and external FSSD products to their clients.
Owner
FSSD Regional NGO’s educate and secure continuous quality of the certified firm. The education material and regulations are supplied from FSSD Global NGO to the regional NGO.
Sales
Sold by regional sales partners or FSSD Global LTD.
Revenue Allocation
Consulting firms pay the regional NGO for the certification, a recurrent fee for quality control and continuous education, publications and news.
Dashboard & Marketplace
Dashboard is the tool (with AI) for end customers to work with the FSSD method (ABCD). It is also a store where end consumers and consulting firms can purchase external FSSD approved products.
Owner
FSSD Global LTD develop Dashboard and incorporate products. FSSD Global NGO endorse the products through a joint venture with the external supplier making them FSSD approved.
Sales
Sold by certified consulting firms as part of their FSSD offering. They are free to sell billable hours to clients within the market in which they are certified and authorized to operate.
Revenue Allocation
Certified consultant firms have a fixed price list for Dashboard and products from the store and is paid to FSSD Global LTD. They can charge whatever they want to their end customers. FSSD Global LTD pays a fee (%) to FSSD Global NGO and a negotiated price to the external supplier.
Sales, Marketing and External Supplier Curation
FSSD Global works through regional sales organizations responsible for promoting certification and sourcing relevant external products and services for the marketplace in their region.
Regional Sales Organizations
FSSD Global LTD will establish a structure of regional sales organizations, either through agreements with external entities or via subsidiaries of FSSD Global LTD. Each regional organization will have the right to appoint additional local sales representatives.
Growth of Certified Consulting Network
The purpose of the sales organizations is to identify and engage consulting firms within their region that are interested in becoming FSSD-certified.
Representing The Regional NGO
The sales organizations represent the services of the regional NGOs. This includes certification and quality assurance.
Revenue Model
Sales organizations earn a commission based on three streams: a percentage of the initial fee for the Dashboard, recurring revenue from users, and a share of all purchases made through the marketplace linked to that account.
Marketing
FSSD Global LTD actively supports its sales partners with sales materials, campaigns, PR and strategic guidance. Our goal is to empower each sales organization with the tools, content, and brand presence needed to grow their regional market and attract high-quality consulting firms.
Regional Coordination
Sales organizations will in many cases be closely connected to the regional NGOs, sometimes with shared ownership or management. Marketing activities and sales training will be coordinated directly with the regional NGO.
FSSD Global LTD Sales Department
FSSD Global LTD has a dedicated sales unit focused on identifying and supporting regional sales organizations and the regional NGO. Its role is to expand the sales network and provide ongoing guidance and tools to help partners succeed in their assigned regions.
Product Sourcing
In addition to sales, each sales organization is responsible for identifying and engaging relevant products and services for the marketplace within their region.
Integration and Approval Process
FSSD Global LTD coordinates the full process of bringing new products into the marketplace. This includes supporting the sales organization in evaluating potential offerings, and managing the interaction with FSSD Global NGO to ensure the product can be assessed and approved before being added to the platform.
Organization
FSSD Global LTD is responsible for the overall operational structure, including the commercial platform and coordination with FSSD Global NGO. As defined in the joint venture agreement, LTD manages the day-to-day operations of the NGO. The NGO retains responsibility for the scientific framework and formal approvals. The two entities operate as an integrated system.
Global Sales Development
Builds and supports a global sales structure through partnerships with regional sales organizations and certified consulting firms.
Marketing
Develops brand, messaging, campaigns, and communication strategies to support global and regional growth.
Technology & Platform Development
Leads the development of the Dashboard, AI engine, integrations, and infrastructure for external service compatibility.
Product & Ecosystem Integration
Manages the onboarding of external tools and services into the marketplace, coordinates product validation with the NGO, and ensures assets and materials are ready for sales and implementation.
Partner & Consultant Enablement
Creates and delivers training, documentation, and structured onboarding to regional NGOs and sales organizations to support the certification and education of consulting firms.
Business Development
Identifies strategic partnerships, licensing opportunities, and new market openings aligned with the FSSD framework.
Finance, HR & Administration
Handles financial management, investor relations, reporting, staffing, legal structure, and internal operations.
FSSD Certification & Product Validation (NGO)
Assesses and approves certified consultants and external products to ensure full alignment with the FSSD principles.
Advisory Board (NGO)
A council of experts, researchers, and thought leaders guiding the scientific and ethical foundation of the FSSD framework.
Cost Drivers
This is a functional overview of the team structure required to launch and operate FSSD Global LTD and the core functions of FSSD Global NGO. For each department, we outline key roles, expected headcount, and primary cost drivers. This includes staffing-related costs as well as operational needs such as tools, software, travel, legal services, and infrastructure. Additional overhead such as office space, insurance, and benefits are not detailed here but should be expected.
Estimated total cost for a full year of operations at this scale: €3–4 million.
Department
Roles
Headcount
Cost Drivers
CEO
–
1
Legal structure, strategy advisory, board setup
Global Sales Development
Sales director, partner managers, onboarding support
3-4
Travel, CRM tools, commissions, partner materials
Marketing
CMO, content creator, comms strategist
2-3
Campaign tools, advertising, brand assets
Tech / Platform Development
CTO, frontend/backend developers, API engineer, QA
5-6
Cloud services, tools, licenses, security, AI/ML infrastructure
Product & Integration
Product manager, ecosystem lead, UX, support
3-4
API frameworks, UX tools, product documentation
Partner Enablement / Training
Training lead, curriculum designer, support specialis
2
LMS platform, content creation, translation
Business Development
Strategic partnerships lead, licensing manager
2
Legal support, research tools, travel
Finance, HR & Administration
CFO, controller, HR lead, legal/admin support
3
Accounting firm, payroll, HR system, legal advisors
NGO – Certification & Validation
Scientific lead, framework coordinator
2
Academic liaisons, review workflows, research input
NGO – Advisory Board
External experts (non-salaried, stipend/meetings)
6+
Honoraria, travel, briefings, event coordination
Why This Could Work Now
FSSD has existed for over three decades with a track record of global clients and scientifically grounded methods. What’s new is the infrastructure: a digital product, a scalable sales and certification model, and a system to connect everything—from training to data to services.
35 Years of Methodological Development
FSSD is not a new idea. It’s a mature, research-based framework used by global brands and governments—but has never scaled beyond practitioner circles.
The Only Truly Holistic Sustainability Method
Unlike ESG tools or reporting frameworks, FSSD + ABCD addresses root causes and connects environmental, social and systemic dimensions into one structure.
We Finally Have a Scalable Product
The Dashboard makes the methodology operational and repeatable. It turns abstract theory into measurable action—something that’s been missing until now.
AI + Data = Coordination, Not Just Reporting
This is not another ESG tracker. The Dashboard enables coordination, measurement, and strategic navigation over time—more like an operating system than a reporting tool.
Incentives Aligned Across the Ecosystem
Certified consulting firms earn from both product sales and their own billable hours. NGOs and suppliers are financially included. Everyone has a reason to grow the system.
A High-Ticket Product With a Market Entry Strategy
The Dashboard is positioned as a premium product. Through certified consultants and regional sales organizations, we can scale without building a global sales team.
Structure for Product and Service Integration
External services (CSRD, LCA, CS3D, sector-specific analyses) can plug into the system via API or specialist input. For the first time, the whole ecosystem can connect.
From Fragmentation to Flow
Sustainability work today is siloed and fragmented. Our model offers a structured flow—from education and certification to tools, data, and real-world services.
Creating a roadmap
If we agree on the key components, our value proposition and operating model, we are ready to move forward. The next step is to create a professional pitch deck. To do that, we need to align on the roadmap ahead so everyone in the team can contribute with their expertise and take ownership of the process.
Define Pricing Models
Set initial price points for certification, Dashboard licenses, and marketplace revenue shares.
Preliminary Budget and Financial Logic
Estimate costs, revenue potential, and break-even scenarios based on pricing and team size.
Go-To-Market Strategy
Outline how we reach first markets, onboard initial partners, and create traction.
Sales & Certification Flow Mapping
Describe how customers enter the system, from outreach to certification and product use.
Legal Structure and Agreements
Draft the joint venture agreement and define contracts between LTD, NGO, regional sales organizations, and consulting firms.
Technical Roadmap
Define key features, MVP scope, integration standards, and development timelines for the Dashboard.
Marketplace Curation Criteria
Set rules for what types of products/services can be listed and how they’re approved.
Investor Narrative & Positioning
Decide what story we want to tell, to whom, and what kind of capital we’re looking for.
Team Roles & Founding Structure
Clarify core team responsibilities, equity distribution (if relevant), and key hires.
Milestones and Timeline
Agree on short-term and mid-term goals before launch and investment round.