Free business plan template?
Discussion
Sometimes if the plan gets too complex, the basics get forgotten.
If you are providing a service, why do you need a sophisticated plan? Since you aren't buying in goods, you may not need any significant start-up working capital (unless you intend to start big with staff and a dedicated business office).
Who would you be intending to show this plan to?
If you are providing a service, why do you need a sophisticated plan? Since you aren't buying in goods, you may not need any significant start-up working capital (unless you intend to start big with staff and a dedicated business office).
Who would you be intending to show this plan to?
Thanks Eric - for confirming what i thought!
I've recently been to an event organised by local Chamber of Commerce and was chatting to a guy there who had said it was very important to do a plan - whether i was planning on opening a shop with a lot of capital, or becoming a freelance club singer - with no capital! (I'm doing neither!)
So, the plan was to really get something together to run past him next time to see what the chamber can do to help.
HOWEVER, you've now confirmed what i need to know. Why do i need a plan when all i'm doing is charging myself out for work. The only capital i have is the occasional mobile call, and then computer usage. The computer is there anyway. Ok, i will have to replace soon but that's only because it's quite old now. If i didn't have the business, i'd still have the computer!!
I've recently been to an event organised by local Chamber of Commerce and was chatting to a guy there who had said it was very important to do a plan - whether i was planning on opening a shop with a lot of capital, or becoming a freelance club singer - with no capital! (I'm doing neither!)
So, the plan was to really get something together to run past him next time to see what the chamber can do to help.
HOWEVER, you've now confirmed what i need to know. Why do i need a plan when all i'm doing is charging myself out for work. The only capital i have is the occasional mobile call, and then computer usage. The computer is there anyway. Ok, i will have to replace soon but that's only because it's quite old now. If i didn't have the business, i'd still have the computer!!
"Business Plans" are usually required by lenders or potential investors in the business. They need to see some sort of prediction of the future income and growth of the business.
If you are self funding or don't require any initial working capital to set up, then it is really only an academic exercise which you may or may not find useful.
You can always draft up your own basic "plan" using an Excel Spreadsheet covering (say) the 1st 12 months of tradinh=g with a column for the expected income and expenditure for each month. Even that may be of limited use.
If you are self funding or don't require any initial working capital to set up, then it is really only an academic exercise which you may or may not find useful.
You can always draft up your own basic "plan" using an Excel Spreadsheet covering (say) the 1st 12 months of tradinh=g with a column for the expected income and expenditure for each month. Even that may be of limited use.
I would have thought some sort of plan would be useful even if self-funding. You maybe don't need to worry too much about financials, but it would be good to have a clear idea of where you intend to take the business over the coming months and years. Without a plan, it's all too easy to lose focus of what you're trying to achieve and in the difficult times (of which there are bound to be some) you may well begin to "wing it". A plan will bring your focus back to what's important during those times.
I'm no expert, just my two penneth.
I'm no expert, just my two penneth.
Eric Mc said:
"Business Plans" are usually required by lenders or potential investors in the business. They need to see some sort of prediction of the future income and growth of the business.
If you are self funding or don't require any initial working capital to set up, then it is really only an academic exercise which you may or may not find useful.
You can always draft up your own basic "plan" using an Excel Spreadsheet covering (say) the 1st 12 months of tradinh=g with a column for the expected income and expenditure for each month. Even that may be of limited use.
You're focussing on the financial side of the business plan though, Eric.If you are self funding or don't require any initial working capital to set up, then it is really only an academic exercise which you may or may not find useful.
You can always draft up your own basic "plan" using an Excel Spreadsheet covering (say) the 1st 12 months of tradinh=g with a column for the expected income and expenditure for each month. Even that may be of limited use.
The OP may not need a financial plan, but he needs to think about marketing, customers, contracts, rates etc, all of which are elements of a 'business plan'.
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