Running a business is hard work. You cannot run a business by the seat of their pants. Remember that failing to plan is planning to fail. You might think that a business plan is for those who want to borrow money from the bank. Wrong. A business plan is your map throughout the working year, it helps shape your future. It helps you prepare for opportunities and the negatives that could strike your business. For example, a lot of auto entrepreneurs have been caught out by the introduction of CFE for businesses, which was introduced to all auto entrepreneurs this year regardless.
With 2016 hot on our heels, now is a good time to put a plan in to place. So let's call it a Working Plan. It does not have to be pages and pages. Keeping it simple will mean that you can review your plan quarterly. Each review you should be able to see quickly where your efforts are working, where they are not working. Have unexpected opportunities arisen? Are you financially on track – you know your overheads are sales meeting them? A mid year review may mean that you need to network more, advertise more, do a few more markets, communicate to your existing customers and/or upsell.
Essential components for your Working Plan:
Your business
Why have you set up in business? How have you set your business? What is your product or service? Who are your customers? Why would they need your product or service? What is your pricing? What are your goals for the coming year? How do you plan to make your business successful this year?
Customers
Customers are important to your business, without them you have no business. Who are your ideal customers? Where are your customers? Is it a need or a want? What is your USP? Who are your competitors? Where do you need to be seen? Where will your focus be? Where should you be spending money in promoting your business? Are they working? What enquiries/business has been generated?
Financials
What are your costs? What do you need to run your business? What are your regular outgoings? Insurance, tools, petrol, supplies, business tax? What do you need to live on each month? When you see what your outgoings are you can see what you need to be earning each month. Do you need to prepare for major costs in the future? I.e a new vehicle, or equipment that you need for your business.
Get your 2016 off to a well planned start and get cracking with those Working Plans as soon as you can.
Yours socially
Micala
You might also want to visit Business Planning workshop
With 2016 hot on our heels, now is a good time to put a plan in to place. So let's call it a Working Plan. It does not have to be pages and pages. Keeping it simple will mean that you can review your plan quarterly. Each review you should be able to see quickly where your efforts are working, where they are not working. Have unexpected opportunities arisen? Are you financially on track – you know your overheads are sales meeting them? A mid year review may mean that you need to network more, advertise more, do a few more markets, communicate to your existing customers and/or upsell.
Essential components for your Working Plan:
Your business
Why have you set up in business? How have you set your business? What is your product or service? Who are your customers? Why would they need your product or service? What is your pricing? What are your goals for the coming year? How do you plan to make your business successful this year?
Customers
Customers are important to your business, without them you have no business. Who are your ideal customers? Where are your customers? Is it a need or a want? What is your USP? Who are your competitors? Where do you need to be seen? Where will your focus be? Where should you be spending money in promoting your business? Are they working? What enquiries/business has been generated?
Financials
What are your costs? What do you need to run your business? What are your regular outgoings? Insurance, tools, petrol, supplies, business tax? What do you need to live on each month? When you see what your outgoings are you can see what you need to be earning each month. Do you need to prepare for major costs in the future? I.e a new vehicle, or equipment that you need for your business.
Get your 2016 off to a well planned start and get cracking with those Working Plans as soon as you can.
Yours socially
Micala
You might also want to visit Business Planning workshop
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