BUSINESS PLANS AND BUSINESS PLANNING

Do I really need a business plan, some often ask?

Neither did Alice in Wonderland.

Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?

That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,'' said the Cat.

I don't much care where,'' said Alice.

Then it doesn't matter which way you go,'' said the Cat.

We are often asked by entrepreneurs "How can I increase my business?" The answer is often easier than they think. But before figuring out how, they must decide where they want to take their business. This is why every company should have a business plan, not just for the purpose of seeking funds.

Your business plan will be the "road map" of your enterprise. It will show you how to get to where you want to go. To develop a good plan, you need to answers quite a few questions.

To get you thinking, let's jump ten years into the future. Describe where your company is at. what is the size of your company in terms of turnover, number of employees etc? Is your company private (Ltd) or public (Plc)? Has the company grown organically or via acquisitions? If you are still a "one director company" How many hours per week do you work? Do you work on weekends? Do you travel? And most importantly, are you happy?

Tough questions? Maybe. But they need to be answered honestly and realistically. Life can hit you with some unwelcome surprises that might change the way you want things to be. It is because of these changes, however, that plans should be re-evaluated at least once a year.

Business plans often follow a general format, for example:

1. Executive Summary
2. Company Profile including mission statement that describes your business and why you are in it
3. Competitive Analysis
4. Marketing Strategy
5. Senior management skills, qualifications and achievements
6. Financial Information
7. Appendices containing any additional information

Our Approach To Business Planning

Sum [Analysis + Immersion + Process] = Results

Analysis

Preparing an effective business plan requires far more than just top quality writing, it requires aggressively thinking through each facet of a company to clearly and succinctly outline a path for future success. By asking the right questions, challenging critical assumptions and analysing underlying business assumptions, Our planning team advances critical thought and challenges business owners to develop action plans that deliver results. With each new client comes a unique opportunity to provide the tools, creativity, curiosity, expertise and feedback that empowers our clients to push their ventures to the next level.

Immersion

The most frequent feedback we receive from our clients relates to the vivacity we exude during the development of their business plans. we are committed to learning as much as possible about every client and spending the extra time required to thoroughly think through critical concepts. We are "off-the clock" thinkers, and push our clients to develop business plans that meet their specific business goals.

Process

Historically, business planning has been a nebulous practice at best. We seek to challenge that perception. Our intense focus on business planning has enabled us to pioneer a process that pushes our clients' collective thinking to the limit. Our planning process results in a document that exceeds expectations and that of readers and potential investors. Our business planning process delivers results.

See Sample Business Plan Template

See Detailed Business Plan Outline

Download Business Plan Template

When it comes to producing a professional business plan that can stand up to the strictest of scrutiny, you can't do better than 'Stand Quest'
business planning software