Tweet

It Takes Planning

Written by: Karen E. Klein

Article Overview: Some companies hit on just the right product or service and find success, business plan or not. But generally, operating a business without a business plan is a mistake. A business plan gives you a blueprint to follow during the life of your business. If you update it frequently, it will tell you when, where and how to implement changes that will make your business more profitable.

It Takes Planning

Entrepreneurs often write me desperate to find out what's gone wrong with their companies. Many times the wrong turn was early on, when they blundered into business without making a plan.

Some companies hit on just the right product or service and find success, business plan or not. But generally, operating a business without a business plan is a mistake. A business plan gives you a blueprint to follow during the life of your business. If you update it frequently, it will tell you when, where and how to implement changes that will make your business more profitable.

Most successful businesses have a business plan, and one is imperative if you plan to raise capital or borrow money from an institutional lender. Investors require a business plan before they will even consider investing in your business. No plan, no capital.

A business plan should contain three basic sections: Administrative, marketing and financial. You should write a business plan when you first consider starting a business.

If you have done things backwards, as many small business owners do, don’t fret. It is never too late to write a business plan. Don’t let someone else do it; write it yourself. Only you truly know your business. Also, by sitting down and writing the plan you will gain more insight into your own business and become a more effective leader.

If your company is already up and running, solicit input on the plan from your key managers and employees. Make sure that you integrate their thoughts into a comprehensive plan with continuity and coordination.

Still feeling inadequate? Take a business plan writing class through your local university or community college's entrepreneurial center. You’ll find additional resources at the library, bookstore or online, including step-by-step books on how to plan a business and sample business plans for various industries.

For $200 (cheaper if you download the eBook), you can purchase Thomson Gale's “Business Plans Handbook,” which includes 24 sample plans taken from businesses in the manufacturing, retail and service industries.

Related Articles
  How much Planning is enough - Use Lean and Standardize
  “The Top Ten Reasons Strategic Planning Meetings Fail, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach”
  Planning Vs Worrying
  Clearing Up The Myths About Strategic Thinking and Planning
  Performance Management - Five Steps To Success

Article Tags: additional resources, blueprint, br, business plan, continuity, coordination, effective leader, entrepreneurial center, insight, institutional lender, library bookstore, local university, mistake, own business, rsquo, sample business plans, small business owners, step books, success business, wrong turn



Related Forum Posts
Building credit - Credit is like reputations, I suppose. Takes a lifetime to build, and only a second to destroy.
Re: How do you make the most of your day? - Planning, To Do lists, and deadlines all help me. Also being self critical of my own time management helps me raise the bar. I still check email too often though.
Re: The Best Method for Online Marketing - Email marketing can be very successful there's little doubt about that. But you need to build a solid list of subscribers and build a strong relationship with them. It's all about give, give, give, and then you can promote something. Takes a lot of patience and hard work but it can definitely be worth it later on.
Re: Success - I think it was Gary Player who said the harder I practice the luckier I become when it came to his success as a world class golfer. Planning and dedication to a task can make all the difference between success and failure. MichelleJ
Re: Quote of the Day - "If you hesitate, some bolder hand will s - Excellent quote, Evan. This reminds me of the saying, "The early bird catches the worm." It's important to act on impulses, rather than hesitate and plan. Planning isn't a bad thing and is warranted in certain cases, but those who act quickly will get a step ahead of the competition.


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Tweet

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

Sales Courage and Resilience

The Pure FUN of Learning & Using NLP

Four Reasons Why Entrepreneurs Should Blog

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.