Why you need good business planning, goals and to prepare a good simple business plan.

By Denise Gluyas, ActionCOACH, Wellington, NZ

Wow, isn’t it amazing how quickly Christmas comes around each year?

The year is in its final throes as we race towards the magical 25th December. All business gears itself up for “the silly season”, the last three or so months of the year when everything has to be done before we Kiwi’s head for the beaches, and holiday baches and cribs for the Summer holidays.

• And guess what – do you have a business plan for the next year yet?
• Do you know how you want the year to pan out for you and your business?

It is a fact, backed by research over the years, that those who do business planning, and write down that business plan, will succeed more than those who have no business plans at all, and even those that only think about their plan.

There is a great deal of power to be gained from creating a business plan and then working the plan, just as it is very hard to get lost when you have a map.
Now, if you work for a large organisation you are expected to set your business goals and create a strategic plan for the next year.
For many in small businesses it is not expected, but you need to set aside time to plan every year. This is the time you need to take out from working in the business and begin thinking about what the business needs from you and your team, to achieve your small business goals for the next year. 

• What money, resources, etc. will be required?
• How can your business ready itself for global changes that will impact on your business?
• Will you have more or less competitors next year?
• Will you be so busy you will need to have more trained people on hand – and where will you find the right ones at the right time?
• Do you need to change the business focus and streamline some business activities? Or even stop doing some (unproductive) activities?

Most small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SME) business plans I have seen are more like something designed and produced for a bank manager, and not very business goal focused. The key to a good SME business plan is to have a set of clear goals – no more than five or six. And then some great ideas and business strategies to achieve those organisational goals over the year. An effective business plan needs to be quick and simple.

To make a profit is both a goal and an outcome. You need to assess how you will make that money, from which clients, and with what activity. Just going through the motions and hoping you will make a good business profit will not make it happen. If you wish to grow the business then you need to consider what you will need to do differently in order for it to grow and what changes you are prepared to make.

A quick, simple business plan is easy when you do it regularly enough.

If you want some help give me a call, Denise Gluyas, or email me for a business plan guide that is simple and easy to use.