Creating a business plan can often be a stumbling block for new businesses. Why is that? It can be hard to know where to begin, and what you should absolutely include and what can be left off. Many startups delay putting together a formal business plan, and even with all the templates available, see it as an overwhelming challenge to piece together all the moving parts that will, hopefully, form a successful business idea.
So let’s talk about what you should include in your business plan. I always suggest beginning with the tough part of asking the tough questions.There are a multitude of questions you should ask yourself about your new business, such as:
About yourself
About the Product or Service
These will get you off to a good start. When it comes to the actual nitty gritty, operational details, it helps to have some resources as options. Here are a few of my favorites:
About Operations
4. Branding – If you’re on a tight budget for getting a logo and other assets, you can use Shopify’s free tools like: Logomaker, Business Name Generator, Domain name lookup, QR code, Terms of use, Privacy Policy & Image Resizer.
5. Web & Technology –
6. Marketing & Sales –
7. HR – Talent Development/Acquisition
All of these considerations and decisions will guide you in the right direction — growth!
Here are a few of my tried and true methods for growing a successful startup:
Get a mentor! This is a surefire way to gain entry into the world of experience. You should pair up, preferably with an entrepreneur with a successful record. You will learn things you could never learn otherwise, just trust me on this one!
Here are a few programs to help Small Business Owners and Entrepreneurs:
You may also consider going to the SBA or SBDC for help from experienced mentors.
Once you’re up and running — let your business be seen! I’ve put together this list of resources you can use to enhance your Digital Marketing results and optimize your Website:
Read about it! Some great books for Entrepreneurs, Marketers & Leaders:
I hope these steps will help entrepreneurs put together a quick business plan without fuss. This is really the nuts and bolts of building a business plan that works for you and not the other way around. It’s meant to move things along fast. It’s all about execution! Don’t wait until it’s perfect or it’ll never go live. In today’s global economy that is constantly changing, you have to be willing to innovate.
I’ll end with one of my favorite quotes; “Dream big. Start small. But most of all, start.” -Simon Sinek
Check out our podcast for more tips to help your business!