Business Planning Resources.
Business Planning: Your Blueprint for Success
Business planning is a cornerstone of building a thriving business. Whether you’re looking to secure funding or simply want to chart a clear path forward, having the right tools can make all the difference.
The business planning resources provided here are designed to simplify the process and keep you focused on what truly matters. These are the same resources I’ve personally relied on to craft numerous business plans over the years. They’ve consistently helped me clarify my thinking, set realistic goals, and produce actionable, results-oriented plans.
Best of all, accessing these resources is quick and easy—just click on the image to download instantly. No email, no hassle—just valuable tools to get you started on your journey to business success.
Why bother planning?
Planning is one of the smartest moves you can make for your business because it gives you the tools to build a solid foundation. By taking the time to create or review a plan, you’re setting yourself up to understand where you’re starting from and what you need to do to get where you want to go. This is why we’ve provided a selection of resources FREE of charge for you to use.
Business Planning Resources!
Simply click on the image to access.
Business Plan Template: Your Comprehensive Guide to Securing Funding
If you need a reliable business plan template, you’re in the right place. This comprehensive 31-page template is specifically designed for businesses looking to raise finance or secure funding. It covers every critical detail that investors or funding agencies expect, giving them everything they need to make a thorough assessment of your business or idea.
Simply click on the image to access the template instantly. It’s a Google document, but converting it to Word is easy—just go to “File” and download it as a Word document. This template ensures you have a professional, detailed plan that sets you up for success. Start building your business plan today!
Business Model Canvas template:-
Business Model Canvas is one page business planning tool. It’s ideal for developing new or documenting existing business models. It is a visual chart with elements for describing a business or product’s value proposition, infrastructure, customers, and finances. If this is your first time in producing a business model canvas then here’s a great youtube video that explains the process. This is a google document but you can easily convert this to word by simply going to file and downloading it as word document.
Profit and Loss / Cashflow template:-
One of the fundementals of business planning is knowing how much profit your business will make and what the cashflow will look like. This is a straight forward template where you can input your sales revenue and costs and the spreadsheet will do the rest for you. This is a google sheet but you can easily convert this to excel by simply going to file and downloading it as excel document. The formulas will still work. A word of warning, this spreadsheet is for indicative purposes only and you should consult a professional if you intend to use this for any other purpose.
Pricing Tool template:-
Setting your price is one of the most fundimental functions of business managment. However, setting the right price is often one of sheer guess work. This pricing tool template is designed to allow product sellers (not services) to model their pricing based on various scenarios. If you want more information on how to set the right price have a read of my blog on this here. This is a google sheet but you can easily convert this to excel by simply going to file and downloading it as excel document. The formulas will still work. A word of warning, this spreadsheet is for indicative purposes only and you should consult a professional if you intend to use this for any other purpose.
Competitive Analysis Tool:-
A SWOT Analysis has been one of the fundamental tools of business planning for the last 50 years now. SWOT analysis was invented in the 1960s by a management consultant named Albert Humphrey at the Stanford Research Institute. It enables the business to take a hard look at what makes them successful (or not) and what opportunities there are for them, along with external threats. This tool asks you a series of questions designed to produce the analysis. It also allows you to measure your business against 2 competitors (providing you have a good knowledge of them and their business).
Also included is a tool that allows you to visualise your competitive positioning. Click on the image to get access
Step By Step Strategy To….Creating A Gap Analysis:-
A gap analysis is an examination of your current performance for the purpose of identifying the differences between your current state of business and where you’d like to be. A Gap analysis is the quantitative (the numbers) and qualitative comparison (the quality of something) of a business or an
individual’s current performance (i.e., present state) with potential performance (i.e., future or target state). If you’re looking for further funding of your business this is a very useful tool.
Step By Step Strategy To….Creating Your Marketing Plan:-
The marketing plan is a key component of your business plan. This document is a step by step process to creating your marketing plan. A marketing plan outlines all the important pieces needed to successfully and consistently market your business. A marketing plan does not have to be lengthy or complicated. Creating a simple marketing plan is something every small business should have.
Step By Step Strategy To….Identifying Your Ideal Customer:-
The first step in building a successful business is identifying your ideal customer. Identifying the your ideal customer allows you to taylor both your product and your marketing messages to them. This means that your marketing will be significantly more effective. This step by step strategy not only allows you to identify them but to also to build your USP, Marketing message and media strategy. All of which are vital when you’re producing a business plan.
Step By Step Strategy To….Creating A 90-day Action Plan:-
Business planning is not all about raising funding, the most successful businesses use the planning process to ensure their success. 90 days is the ideal time frame to focus on a goal. You all know the feeling of being excited about something new. You’re focused and dedicated and those feelings translate into working hard. Hard work inevitably builds momentum and brings desired growth. After 90 days have passed, you’ve probably run into some road blocks, your goals might need tweaking. You generally start to lose focus and enthusiasm and get frustrated when growth slows down.
Step By Step Strategy To….Creating A Value Proposition:-
A value proposition is a promise of value to be delivered. It’s the primary reason a prospect should buy from you. In a nutshell, value proposition is a clear statement that:-
It explains how your product solves customers’ problems or improves their situation (relevancy), It highlights how you deliver specific benefits (quantified value), It informs the ideal customer why they should buy from you and not from the competition (unique differentiation).
Visioning Process Template:-
This template helps you clarify and articulate your business vision, laying the foundation for strategic planning and goal setting. Use this as a guide to focus your thoughts and create a clear, inspiring vision for your business.
One Page Marketing Plan Template:-
Marketing doesn’t have to be complicated to be effective. In fact, some of the most successful businesses thrive on simple, focused strategies that are easy to implement and measure. That’s where the One-Page Marketing Plan comes in.
This streamlined approach allows you to focus on what truly matters—connecting with your target audience, delivering value, and driving results. By distilling your marketing strategy into a single page, you eliminate unnecessary complexity and gain a clear roadmap to achieve your goals.
Minimum Viable Product Checklist:-
Developing a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) is a critical step in turning your business idea into reality. This cheat sheet combines the principles of the Lean Startup methodology with the structured guidance of the Game Plan Accelerator, providing a comprehensive approach to building, testing, and refining your MVP.
Mission Statement Template:-
This mission statement template will help you articulate the core purpose of your business, defining what you do, who you serve, and how you deliver value. A strong mission statement guides your actions, inspires your team, and communicates your purpose to customers and stakeholders.
Assumption Review Checklist:-
When it comes to business planning, assumptions play a crucial role. They form the foundation of your strategy, shaping decisions about everything from customer demand and pricing to resource allocation and market trends. Every goal you set, every action you take, and every forecast you create is built on a series of assumptions—your best guesses about how the future will unfold.
Goal Setting Template:-
Achieving success starts with setting clear, actionable goals. This Goal-Setting Template is designed to help you focus your efforts, define your priorities, and create a roadmap to reach your objectives. Whether you’re striving for personal growth or business success, this template will guide you through setting goals that are specific, measurable, and aligned with your vision. With a simple, step-by-step process, you’ll turn aspirations into actionable plans and stay motivated as you track your progress.
One Page 365/90 Business Plan Template:-
The 365/90 One-Page Business Plan Template is a powerful yet simple tool designed to help you achieve clarity, focus, and measurable results. It starts by defining 3-5 major goals for the year (365 days) and then breaks them down into actionable, 90-day targets. This streamlined approach ensures you’re always working toward long-term success while staying adaptable to short-term changes. Perfect for small business owners, entrepreneurs, and freelancers, this template simplifies planning and keeps your priorities front and centre.
Read My Blog On Business Planning.
Stop Measuring the Wrong Things: How to Turn Ambition into Real Progress.
1. Introduction: The Illusion of Progress. Bill Gates once said, “You can achieve incredible progress if you set a clear goal and find a measure that will drive progress toward that goal.” I love that quote because it captures one of the biggest truths in business,...
Business Strategy (Case Study)
From Busy to Profitable: How a £2M Construction Company Repositioned for Exit. (Case Study). Introduction. Many small construction companies in the UK face the same challenge: they’re busy, turning over millions each year, but struggling to convert that effort into...
Why Playing It Safe Is the Riskiest Business Strategy of All.
1. The Comfort Trap in Strategy. I’ve noticed something time and time again when working with business owners: most of us don’t choose the strategy that will make us the most successful; we choose the one that feels the least likely to fail. On the surface, that...
“Why Most Small Businesses Fail to Change (Until It’s Too Late)”
1. The Real Reason Businesses Don’t Adapt. Let me tell you the truth: most businesses don’t fail because of bad ideas or bad luck. They fail because they don’t adapt. Markets shift. Technology evolves. Customers expect more. And yet… most businesses keep doing what...
Business Assumptions aren’t the problem—being blind to them is.
“Why Most Business Plans Fail Before They Even Start”All Predictions Are Assumptions. Let me hit you with something that most business owners don’t want to hear: Every forecast you make… every plan you build… every goal you set… is based on assumptions. It doesn’t...
The Quality Illusion: Why Most Small Businesses Can’t Deliver What They Promise.
Introduction: Everyone Claims Quality, Few Actually Deliver. In my experience working with small business owners, there’s one phrase I hear time and time again: “We win on quality.” Closely followed by: “Our service is better than the competition.” And I get it,...
Are You Underperforming? It Might Be a Business Design Problem.
Introduction: Why Some Businesses Underperform Despite Great Potential. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve sat with a business owner who has all the right ingredients, skills, tools, team, funding, and yet their business is struggling to gain traction. It’s...
“Digital Disruption in Business. Don’t Be the Next Kodak.”
How to Spot Disruption and Adapt Before It’s Too Late. I Thought Kodak Was Untouchable. Growing up, Kodak was the name in photography. Every family holiday, every school trip, every birthday, there was always a Kodak moment. I still remember the satisfying click...
What Business Are You Really In?
The Strategy Shift That Made McDonald’s Billions, And What It Means for Your Business Plan. For years, I thought McDonald’s was in the burger business. Like most people, I saw the golden arches and instantly thought: fast food, fries, Happy Meals. But it wasn’t until...
The Only Business Planning Framework You’ll Ever Need.
"Not All Business Plans Are Equal: Discover the 8 That Actually Move the Needle" 1. Introduction: Not All Business Plans Are Created Equal When someone tells me they “need a business plan,” my first question is always: what for? Over the years, I’ve worked with all...