A business plan is more than just a justification for money – it’s a justification for the business itself. Why should the business exist, and why will it work? It’s as much about being honest with yourself and creating something thoroughly researched as it is about persuasive writing and clarity. There are plenty of templates, sample plans and courses available online to help you write and structure your business plan – including our own below. Enter your email address to download!
How to start your business plan in three easy steps!
It can be hard to write a business plan from scratch. But there are tried and tested methods and structures for creating your plan, and once you know them it’s just a matter of looking at your business proposition honestly and gathering information about how you intend to run the business and make it a success.
There are three simple steps to set you on a solid path to completing your business plan:
1. Download your free business plan template
Millions of business plans have been written over time, and the result of that is a structure that works well. Managers, investors, and key stakeholders will expect to see a specific type of business plan, providing key information in a clear and concise way.
In some examples of business plans and proposals, the names of the sections might change, or the emphasis may be different to suit the nature of the business. However, the core of every business plan is the same. The end result of a business plan isn’t just a document, it’s a representation of your business. This is why it’s worth spending some time and effort to get it right.
If you are starting a new small business then there’s even more reason to plan thoroughly. Small businesses need to carefully manage their finances, particularly their cash flow – as running out of ready cash is one of the biggest reasons small businesses are forced to close down. The financial side of business planning is doubly important if you don’t have a mountain of money to burn (though if you do happen to have a mountain of money, forecasting what’s going to happen to it would be a good idea too!)
2. Grab your free trial of Brixx
In many business plans the finances are a page stapled on at the end. But this seems a mistake, as finances are the lifeblood of a business.
Your business deserves to be carefully planned, not just in terms of how you’re going to market and sell but in terms of sales projections and cash flow forecasts. Brixx is a cash flow forecasting tool designed to help new businesses assess their financial futures, create professional charts and test business ideas.
You can start with a free trial now to see how accessible financial planning is in Brixx – building plans based on real business activities.
3. Grab our guide to your first business plan online
For many people starting businesses, this may be your first ever business plan. To help out, we’ve written an in-depth guide to completing your business plan.
Why do you need a business plan?
Making a business plan may seem like a chore, but it’s actually really important for you and for your business. Writing an extensive, factual but persuasive document takes more than just an idea and some napkin maths. But that doesn’t mean it has to be hard!
There are many reasons to use a business plan:
- Present to investors to acquire funding
- Present to stakeholders to get them to back your project
- Rigorously understand your own business
The purpose of your plan should inform how you build it – and how you present it. Before putting digital pen to digital paper, consider your audience – the kind of language they are familiar with and the information that they will want to see clearly displayed in your business plan.
Pulling it all together
By following this step-by-step approach, writing a business plan should be a lot easier than trying to come up with one from scratch. Whether you are a business owner already, or planning a new venture, it’s best to build on the experience of others. Not only is this quicker, it’s a great way to learn these skills for yourself.