Business Plan Template.

[nightofjoy]

I've been advised to complete a business plan.
I have a template but don't even know where to begin!

My situation is I'm a 40 yr old one man operation, I'm not currently working and have no financial backing. The business plan will hopefully find me a grant providing I can come up with the information to fill out the damned thing.

My plan thus far has been: Find funding, have my product made, sell product, buy more stock, sell etc.......just buy & sell.

I've not even thought about whether I want to sell to the trade or to the public. Can't I do both?

I have no staff or advisers and I'm finding all of this mighty baffling.

Can anyone offer any advice?

Thanks.

Mike.

 

[Scalloway]

There is some official government advice here. I haven't had a chance to look at it myself so I can't comment if it is any good.

https://www.gov.uk/write-business-plan

There is a load of sample plans here. Even if none fits your business they will give you an idea of what should be included.

http://www.bplans.co.uk/retail_and_online_store_business_plan_templates.cfm

As for selling to both the trade and the public there should be no problem. Remember trade cuistomers may expect trade discounts.

 

[ChrisKG]

Hi Mike,

If you're hoping to get grant funding you'll need to provide the potential financial backers with solid market research - who will buy your product, where are they, how many of them are there, how much will they spend, do they buy this product already, who else is providing a similar product, what price is acceptable in the marketplace etc. You'll need to ask your potential customers if they would buy the product that you're hoping to produce and sell. Solid market research and 3-5 year financial forecasts are the key parts of the business plan that investors will be interested in.

Good luck.

Chris

 

[Alan]

There are free business start up mentors around, if you can find them. Sound like you need to sit down with one an trash out what you plan really will be.

I'm not currently working

the Job Centre apparently provide advisors

 

[businessfunding]

If you are on JSA you should qualify for the NEA scheme which will provide you with guidance on a mentor (the structure will vary depending on your location)

It might also qualify you for a small loan

In any case, you need some form of plan, particularly if you are expecting someone else to fund the business

There is nothing stopping you supplying to both business and individuals, but it might affect your marketing and some of your procedures.

You can get a template from any bank or many accountants'websites. Where do you start - wherever you like - it is a revolving document not a linear one; its real value is in helping you to think about areas of your business - from there you an ask increasingly focused and specific questions.

 

[killerdog]

http://www.score.org/resources/business-plan-startup-pdf

I came across this guide, (not a template) when I had to do my plan in 3 days. It is a series of questions, I printed it and numbered each question and wrote the answer in my a4 pad. Some are relevent, some arent but at the end I could patch together the answers I had written down into a paragraph.
After many, many hours in front of the pc and printing, checking, reprinting I came to a plan I was very pleased with and so was the bank person.