A business plan can be one of the most useful tools for a new business. But how many businesses actually have one in any form?
I instruct my clients to start with a sentence or two of what you want to do and for whom; a brief mission statement.
Once you have the Mission Statement, then you start with the one page business plan. These forms are all over the internet. Here you start to flesh out the details of how you are going to start to run your business.
Now the fun begins. You get to pull together the complete road map of how you going to run your business, the detailed business plan. This is going to be a living breathing document that you should be referring to and updating on a regular basis. This will include how you will operate, market, train, staff and grow your company.
You will want to include short term; intermediate and long term goals. All measurable.
Also do not complete this document in a vacuum, you will need and should ask for help. Start with family, friends or anyone whose opinion you value; also get people who will challenge your assumptions. Their input on a regular basis will help ensure your success.