FA-301h · Module 2

The Business Case Structure

3 min read

A business case is an argument with numbers. The structure follows the same logic as any persuasive argument: establish the problem, quantify the cost of the problem, present the solution, quantify the benefit of the solution, and prove the return exceeds the investment. Every section must be supported by data. Every number must be traceable. A business case that says "we believe this will improve productivity" is an opinion. One that says "based on the pilot, this reduced task time by 34%, saving 12 hours per week across 8 team members, which equates to $124,800 annually at fully loaded cost" is a case.

Business Case — [Project Name]
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1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (1 paragraph)
   Investment: $X | Return: $Y | ROI: Z%
   Breakeven: Month N | Payback: M months

2. PROBLEM STATEMENT
   Current state, cost of inaction,
   competitive risk of not investing

3. PROPOSED SOLUTION
   What, why this option, alternatives
   considered and rejected (with reasons)

4. FINANCIAL ANALYSIS
   Cost breakdown (year 1-3)
   Benefit breakdown (cost avoidance + revenue)
   NPV, IRR, payback period
   Sensitivity analysis on top 3 assumptions

5. RISK ASSESSMENT
   Top 3 risks with probability,
   impact, and mitigation

6. IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
   Timeline, resource requirements,
   success metrics, review cadence

7. RECOMMENDATION
   Clear ask with specific approval needed

Do This

Lead with the executive summary — decision-makers read this first and sometimes only this
Include alternatives considered and explain why they were rejected
Quantify the cost of doing nothing — inaction has a cost too

Avoid This

Build the case bottom-up and save the conclusion for the last page — front-load the answer
Present only one option — a business case without alternatives is a foregone conclusion, not an analysis
Skip the risk section — a case with no risks acknowledged is a case the CFO does not trust