What to Include in a Business Requirements Document for Application Development

• Business Requirements Document (BRD)
• 25 March 2025 |
• Anas Ahsan

What to Include in a Business Requirements Document for Application Development

Introduction: Why a BRD Is the Backbone of Successful Application Development

Too often, businesses dive into application development with enthusiasm but little structure. They have a clear goal—build a solution—but the execution falters due to unclear requirements, misaligned expectations, and mid-project surprises.

This is where a Business Requirements Document (BRD) becomes invaluable.

A well-constructed BRD creates alignment across teams, mitigates risks, and ensures everyone—from developers to stakeholders—knows exactly what success looks like. Whether you’re building a new application, modernizing a legacy system, or extending an existing platform, the BRD acts as your single source of truth.

This blog will guide you through the key components of an effective BRD so your application development project starts with clarity and ends in success.

What Is a Business Requirements Document (BRD)?

A BRD is a formal document that outlines the business needs an application should fulfill. It translates business objectives into actionable development goals, ensuring developers, designers, and stakeholders operate with shared understanding.

Unlike a technical specification—which explains how to build something—a BRD focuses on what should be built and why it matters.

Why a BRD Matters in Application Development

Without a BRD, your project may be prone to:

• Unclear expectations
• Missed functionality
• Extended timelines
• Budget overruns
• Low user adoption

A strong BRD keeps teams aligned and ensures that each decision supports the end goal.

Who Contributes to the BRD?

Creating a BRD is a collaborative process. Involve:

• Project sponsors and decision-makers
• Product managers or owners
• Department heads and stakeholders
• Technical teams (developers, architects)
• End users and subject matter experts
• Business analysts

This collaboration ensures that all use cases are captured and no important perspective is missed.

What to Include in a Business Requirements Document

Here’s a comprehensive, section-by-section guide:

1. Executive Summary

Start with a concise overview of the project’s purpose.
Include:

• Business challenge or opportunity
• Proposed solution at a high level
• Project goals
• Key contacts and project owner
• Target timeline and phases

2. Business Goals and Objectives

Define the business drivers behind the project.
Include:

• Specific goals (e.g., reduce manual tasks, improve customer self-service)
• Alignment with broader company strategy
• Success metrics and KPIs

3. Scope Definition

Detail what the application will and won’t do.
Include:

• Functional areas to be addressed
• Departments or teams involved
• Features to be developed
• Explicitly list out-of-scope items to prevent scope creep

4. User Roles and Personas

Understand who will be using the application and why.
Include:

• Different user types (admin, staff, clients, partners)
• Their pain points in current workflows
• Goals they want to achieve with the new app
• Role-specific access or permissions

5. Functional Requirements

Describe the core functions the application must perform.
Include:

• User stories or use cases
• Business rules or constraints
• Data entry requirements
• Approval workflows
• Role-based functionality

6. Non-Functional Requirements

Outline how the system should operate beyond features.
Include:

• Performance benchmarks
• System availability or uptime
• Data security and privacy
• Scalability expectations
• Usability standards

7. Data and Integration Requirements

Define how the app will handle data and connect with other systems.
Include:

• Data input and output formats
• Third-party integrations (e.g., CRMs, ERPs)
• API requirements
• Real-time or batch processing expectations
• Data migration needs

8. Reporting and Dashboards

Capture reporting needs to support decisions.
Include:

• Dashboard metrics
• Export functionality
• Role-based visibility
• Report scheduling and delivery

9. Compliance and Regulatory Considerations

Identify any legal, financial, or regulatory factors.
Include:

• Industry-specific compliance (e.g., healthcare, finance)
• Data protection policies (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA)
• Record-keeping or audit trail needs

10. Timeline and Milestones

Create realistic expectations for delivery.
Include:

• Project phases
• Estimated time for each phase
• Internal review checkpoints
• UAT and launch windows

11. Budget Guidelines and Constraints

Help technical teams understand boundaries and expectations.
Include:

• Estimated budget ranges
• Preferred pricing models (fixed, T&M, hourly)
• Any expected resource constraints
• Assumptions and exclusions

12. Change Management Plan

Ensure your organization is ready to adopt the new app.
Include:

• Training needs by department or role
• Internal communication strategy
• Transition support plan
• Feedback collection methods post-launch

13. Glossary and Definitions

Clarify any terms that could be misinterpreted.
Include:

• Abbreviations and acronyms
• Industry jargon
• Feature or role definitions

14. Sign-Off Section

Define who is responsible for final review and approval.
Include:

• Names and roles of reviewers
• Date of approval
• Version history

How a BRD Enhances Application Development

A well-structured BRD helps to:

• Reduce miscommunication
• Improve stakeholder engagement
• Shorten development cycles
• Improve quality control
• Ensure the application truly solves business problems
• Enable faster onboarding for new team members

It serves as the blueprint for a reliable, scalable, and usable application.

Avoid These BRD Mistakes

• Making the BRD too technical for business users
• Ignoring end-user input
• Overcomplicating documentation
• Leaving requirements open to interpretation
• Failing to update the BRD as scope evolves

A BRD Is an Investment in Project Success

A thoughtful, complete BRD sets your project up for success from the first conversation to final launch. It’s not just a document—it’s the foundation of a shared understanding between business and technology.

If your team is planning an application and wants to reduce uncertainty, speed up execution, and deliver value faster, a BRD is the best place to start.

Let’s Turn Your Requirements Into Real-World Results

A strong application doesn’t begin with code—it begins with clarity. At One Technology Services, we partner with teams to create custom Business Requirements Documents that eliminate guesswork, reduce project risk, and ensure the end product delivers measurable business value.

If you’re ready to stop guessing and start building with confidence, let’s talk.

Request a free BRD planning consultation today.
+1 (447) 200 2019
info@onetechnologyservices.com
onetechnologyservices.com

Conclusion:

At One Technology Services, we believe success in application development begins long before the first sprint. By guiding our clients through the BRD process, we create a foundation that supports alignment, velocity, and quality at every stage.

Whether you’re a startup defining your first product or an enterprise modernizing a legacy system, a BRD built with us ensures your app doesn’t just get delivered—it delivers results.

Read More:

How to Reduce Application Development Costs Without Compromising Quality

5 Tips & Strategies for Faster Application Development with DevOps

Strategies for Successful Mobile Application Development

A Guide to Successful Application Development