(YOUR BUSINESS NAME) BUSINESS PLAN Prepared by

Marketing and sales strategy MARKET CONDITIONS AND COMPETITION

You can include your gut instincts about the market here and what you know, but be sure to also back this up with evidence and research.
Who are your biggest competitors? (Bear in mind competitors don’t always have to be exactly the same type of business, but something that people might spend their money on instead of your product).

How do your competitors market and price themselves?

How much is currently spent in your industry and what is demand like?

What are the barriers to entry?

What trends are happening internationally within similar businesses (maybe in countries like the US who may be further ahead)?<br>

Marketing and sales strategy TARGET MARKET

Who is your target market? 

Create a customer profile with as much detail as possible about your ideal customer.

Make a list of friends, clients, business contacts, companies to target that might buy from you and include any current customers.

Can you think of any other possible types of customer?
For example: if you make jewellery, as well as selling it directly to the customer you could consider selling wholesale to other businesses, or starting jewellery making classes.<br>

Marketing and sales strategy OUR BRAND

What is your brand’s personality and characteristics? What does it stand for? What’s your mission statement? 

Do you have a tone or voice and brand guidelines? 

How will your brand do business/work with clients/communicate with customers?

What brand and sales collateral will you need? (Don’t go crazy buying too much at first. Better to find out that you need it and then get it). 
For example: business cards, leaflets, templates (invoice, e-newsletter), sales presentation.<br>

Marketing and sales strategy SALES AND MARKETING PLAN

What sales and marketing channels will you use? 
For example: website, social media, email marketing, blogging and blogger outreach, print advertising, radio, PR, partnerships, networking, podcasts, videos, directories, referrals, PPC, SEO.
What is your plan for activities and budget for each of these channels? 
Plan your website - domain name, who will build it, what information and functionality does it need?<br>

Our team Who will make up your team and what relevant skills and experience do they have?

Do you need to employ people?

What friends/family/business contacts do you have with skills that might be able to help you (preferably for free)?

Do you need to outsource anything?<br>

Operational set up What premises do you need? Where will they be? Where will you work from?

What assets/tools do you require (and which of these do you already have)?

Are there any licenses that you require? Any other legal considerations?<br>

Financial plans and projections COSTS

Make an extensive list of all the start up and running costs that the business will have. If you don’t know the exact cost then estimate it.

For example: premises, insurance, licences, staff wages, your salary, stock, delivery costs, machinery, tools, computer, printer, telephone, electric, wifi, website, accountant, marketing, travel, design and print, training, photography, networking events, exhibitions, client entertaining.<br>

Financial plans and projections STARTUP FINANCE

How much do you need to start the business and to ensure you have enough cash-flow?

How will you be financing it?


PRICING

Include as much detail as you can about your prices, pricing structure and margins. 

How much money do you need to make on a monthly basis to cover your costs and pay yourself and how much do you have to sell to make this figure?<br>

Financial plans and projections PROJECTED ACCOUNTS

With your cost, finance and pricing figures, create your projected accounts for the first three years:
 
Cash flow forecast 

Projected balance sheet 

Projected profit and loss accounts<br>