The business plan is the single document that causes most rejections for HTP resident status. Not the type of activity, not the size of the company — the quality of this document. The HTP Administration returns applications with incomplete or incorrectly prepared documents within five working days, and the process starts over.
Here’s what the Supervisory Board actually requires, how to structure the document, and what mistakes to avoid.
The business plan is a mandatory document for HTP registration. Its standard form is approved by Council of Ministers Resolution No. 403. The document first goes through the HTP Administration — which checks formal compliance — and is then passed to the Supervisory Board, which makes the final decision.
The Supervisory Board evaluates not just formal compliance, but the genuine value of the project for developing the IT sector in Belarus. This is where applications are won or lost.
Maximum length: 20 pages excluding appendices. Financial calculations are made in Belarusian rubles. For export operations, figures are given in foreign currency. The planning horizon must cover at least 3 years.
An introductory section covering the key parameters of the project. Must include:
— Purpose of submitting the business plan (initial registration or approval of an additional project) — Business model and company specialisation — Planned types of activity under the HTP regime — Key financial targets for the end of the planning period: revenue, headcount, average salary — Duration of the business plan — this is mandatory. Standard wording: “for the entire duration of the special legal regime of the Hi-Tech Park”
Company history, achievements and current status. For newly established companies — a description of the team, their experience and previous projects. The Supervisory Board looks for genuine expertise in the declared area of activity.
This is the core section — up to 4 pages. It needs to specifically describe what the company will develop or produce under the HTP regime:
— Specific examples of planned developments or products — Their relevance and market importance — Types of activity from the approved HTP list that the company will carry out — Justification for why the proposed goods, works or services are needed
A common mistake is describing activities in general terms: “software development for international clients.” The Supervisory Board expects specifics: what software, for what purpose, who is the client, what is the value of the product.
Description of target markets and client base. For outsourcing companies — an existing client portfolio or a typical client profile. For product companies — target market, competitors, unique value proposition.
If the company is already operating, real data is provided. If just starting out, a justified forecast with market analysis is expected.
This section is formatted as a table. Rows with zero values are not included. It covers:
— Current financial and economic performance (if the company is already operating) — Planned figures by year: revenue, costs, profit, profitability — Labour productivity — Headcount and average monthly salary
An important technical point: financial planning must use a fixed USD to Belarusian ruble exchange rate, applied consistently across the entire planning horizon.
A concrete action plan: what the company will do, by when, and what results it expects to achieve. Formatted as a table with specific tasks, timelines and responsible parties.
A standard section confirming that the company will comply with the requirements of the HTP Regulations.
Vague descriptions instead of specifics. “Development of innovative software” is not enough. What’s needed: what exactly is being developed, for which clients, what problem it solves, what the projected volume is. The Supervisory Board evaluates the credibility and substance of the project.
Unrealistic financial projections. Inflated figures without justification are a fast route to rejection. Forecasts must be achievable and logically grounded: where the revenue will come from, how many clients, at what rate.
Activity types that don’t match the approved HTP list. Before preparing the business plan, the planned activities must be checked against the official list in clause 3 of the HTP Regulations. If an activity isn’t on the list, the application will be rejected regardless of everything else in the document.
From our practice: a company from the United Kingdom prepared its business plan independently and had documents returned at the HTP Administration stage. The reason: financial calculations were done in US dollars instead of Belarusian rubles, and the document was missing the mandatory clause on the duration of the business plan. Two technical errors cost them a month.
Yes — this is official practice. During the preparation stage, the HTP Administration holds consultations for prospective applicants. This allows you to clarify requirements, check that planned activities match the approved list, and get feedback before formal submission. Using an external consultant to prepare the business plan has no effect on the likelihood of approval — this is stated directly in the official HTP guidelines.
Within 5 working days, the HTP Administration takes one of two actions: passes the documents to the Supervisory Board for review, or returns them to the applicant with a statement of reasons. A return is not a rejection — documents can be resubmitted after addressing the issues.
The Supervisory Board reviews the application within one month. If needed, the period can be extended by a further 10 days for additional assessment. A positive decision leads to signing a residency agreement with the company. A negative decision comes with written grounds that can be challenged in court.
Does the company need to be registered before submitting the business plan?
Yes. Only legal entities or individual entrepreneurs registered in Belarus can become HTP residents. Details on registration in our guide to IT company registration in Belarus.
What language must the business plan be written in?
Russian or Belarusian. Documents in foreign languages are not accepted.
What if the project changes after receiving resident status?
Adding new types of activity or significantly changing the business model requires preparing and getting approval for an additional business plan. This follows the same review procedure.
How long does HTP resident status last?
The duration is specified in the business plan itself. The standard approach is to set it for the entire duration of the HTP special legal regime — that is, until 2049.
The HTP business plan is not a formality. The Supervisory Board’s decision depends directly on its quality. Specific product descriptions, realistic financial projections, and precise alignment with the approved activity list are the three things that separate approved applications from rejected ones.
If you want to prepare the business plan correctly the first time — write to us or get in touch directly:
📧 [email protected] 📞 +375 29 142 27 19
We respond within 2 hours on business days.
In modern business, confusion often arises around key financial terms, especially income, revenue, and profit. These concepts form the foundation of financial literacy and reporting, playing a crucial role in analyzing a company’s performance, informing management decisions, and planning for future growth. While they may seem similar at first glance, each term represents a fundamentally […]
The registration of a limited liability company is not always carried out personally by the founder. In practice, situations often arise when the business owner is outside the country, is busy with operational activities, or engages professional consultants to launch the company. In such cases, registering an LLC by power of attorney becomes the optimal […]
