Running a business without a business plan is like driving a car without knowing where you are going. Your chances of making it successfully to your destination are remote.
A business plan is for a business like a map with a clear set of directions for a road trip, or a recipe for a cake! And like any other map, or recipe, your plan will have to be adjusted according to your vision for the company, conditions and opportunities in the marketplace and your business’ current condition.
Whether it’s formal or informal, every business has a plan. The local butcher may not have formally written down the plan, but before setting up shop, a smart owner would have assessed the need for a shop in that area of town, the ability to attract clients there, the appropriate amount of stock to buy, the equipment needed , the supplier of meat, the cost of equipment, passing traffic, the parking availability for clients. The owner who waits to figure these things out using the suck it and see, will have a slim chance of success
A business plan helps to minimizes those pitfalls.
The process starts with simply writing the answer to three questions, namely:
- Where are you now?
- Where do you want to be at a future date?
- How will you get there?
1. ‘Where are you now?’ – "the diagnostic" must be your starting point. This question seeks to provide a foundation. It looks at your business to establish such things as:
- your business idea
- Why you started
- Your story
- What is keeping you up at night
- your current level of sales
- your customer groups
- your products and services
- your pricing policy
- your distribution policy
- your promotional activity
- your overall operation
- your team members
- your Balance Sheet (assets and liabilities)
- Your Profit and Loss Statement
2. “Where do you want to be at a future date?” is simply asking you to visualize your business operation at a set date in the future - say in 4 years - in 2020.
This visualization process is almost identical to the exercise of setting personal objectives. The difference, however, is that the focus here is on business objectives.
3. “How will you get there?” asks about the steps you need to take in order to achieve the business objectives you have set. These steps, or strategies, can be identified, written down and programmed. Additional things a business plan should consider:
- What is a reasonable expectation of profitability and when?
- How will the business pay you and any team members?
- What are estimated expenses?
- What is the pricing strategy?
- What is the need for what you are offering and what profit margins can you expect?
While much of this may have occurred to you informally, it is very import to write it down. If you ever need to approach a bank or investors, you will need it. Writing it down will reinforce your vision, give you a reference point for checking your business’ progress and will most likely bring up factors you did not consider when creating the plan in your head.
Writing your business plan down:
- Helps you determine and coordinate all aspects of business operations
- Gives you a means to analyze and determine what might be the best change to boost your business out of a stagnant situation
- Assists you in determining the risks and benefits associated with any changes
- Decreases your chances of making a mistake or not considering important factors in your business, and most importantly,
- Dramatically increases your chances of success.
Business plans are not only for those just setting out their journey in the marketplace. They are useful when acquiring a new business, forecasting growth, introducing a new product or service, entering a new market, responding to changes in the market or changing a significant aspect of your business.