Lets start with what is a business plan?
According to Wikipedia:
A business plan is a formal statement of a set of business goals, the reasons why they are believed attainable, and the plan for reaching those goals. It may also contain background information about the organization or team attempting to reach those goals.
Bridgefield group believes it’s:
A long term, family-level financial and operating plan that supports the strategic plan in fulfilling organizational objectives. It provides the high-level detail for the strategic considerations of market, product, facility and resource positioning. An intermediate planning level between the strategic plan and the sales and operations plan (S&OP).
Chambers Dictionary has it as:
business plan noun a plan laying out the objectives of a proposed business venture, its financial strategy, the products or service to be produced or supplied, and the estimated market, turnover, profits, return for investors, etc.
EXTREME MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS believes that a business plan is is all of the above – yes and it’s so much more. A Business Plan is a huge shop window that lets your customers, suppliers and staff:
• see what you are in business to do
• show what the benefits are of using your services/products
• understand how you’ll care for them
• see how you’re set up to do business
• feel that you’re right for them
• hear about your market
It isn’t just about finance from the banks, or something you keep hidden in your head, or something you raise occasionally to look at and then sink again like the Titanic.
It’s a living being – it’s you and your business. Make sure it’s the best it can be.
The next short burst will look at the Mission.
Regards,
Peter Mackechnie BA (Hons), Dip Man, MAC, MCMI
‘Adapting Business Behaviour’
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Hi Peter,
I'll send an electronic copy of the business plan by email.
I agree about the shop front: aesthetics are just as important for a website as functionality and SEO.
Hi Steve
Thanks for the offer-I'd like to see it.
A further thought came to mind as a result of the article and it was choose what type of shop front you want rather than let it choose you. Do you want it to be a run down charity shop window (a shop which is often shut because they can't get enough volunteer staff) or Harrods (some top end quality goods and others at 'normal' quality levels and all extortionatly priced) or somewhere in between?
An interesting article Peter.
Our initial business plan was well received because of the slightly unusual way that we presented it: as a tabloid newspaper.
If you'd like to see a copy, it may give you some ideas to impart upon your clients.