business plan

Making Business Plans Make Sense

Does your business plan make the usual mistake – focussing too much on money, and not enough on market? Do you add up the numbers without really understanding the assumptions? Most people do. Do you set the rules about what you will, and won’t do, before you start the plan. Most people don’t. In which [...]

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Why Bother With Sales Forecasts

Sales Forecast

What is sales forecasting to you? What does it for your business? How do you calculate your forecasts and act on the results? Most people don’t understand the point of it, because usually it doesn’t work, for them at least. But with the right techniques, sales forecasting can make a big difference in any business. [...]

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Translating Consultant Gobbledegook

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New entrepreneurs need start up advice in simple, direct language. Not consultant speak intended to confuse and impress. They have enough problems, with all the B/S they get from government agencies (who nothing about the subject), vendor marketing pitches designed to part them from their start up cash. The last thing start up entrepreneurs need [...]

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Business Planning for Entrepreneurs and Start Ups

Front Office Box

Planning ways a business will operate requires a vision, strategy, objectives and tactics – where are you going with it, how will you get there, and how will you keep on course? It also needs a template for the process, milestones, checklists and schedules to help you organise your thoughts. For most small businesses, planning [...]

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Why Business Plans Never Work

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My Business Plan never works, so why are we always being asked for meaningless spreadsheets? There is a type of business plan which makes sense, but it doesn’t have a lot to do with revenue, costs and cash. The way these pretend business people, in banking, government, support services etc. all ask for a copy [...]

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What Is Your Sales Strategy, How Well Does It Work

Sales Manager

Sales strategy is the fundamental element of any business plan, in the same way as strategy is fundamental to achieving anything. Even to get from one side of the room you need a strategy – will you walk,, crawl or slither on your belly. Depending on the circumstances each could be the most appropriate way [...]

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Free Business Plan Template and Checklist

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Writing a business plan can be hard. When there’s a great business idea in our heads the most discouraging thing anybody can say is “Where’s your business plan?” We know business plans are modern day fairy tales. We just want to get on with making the business happen. Unfortunately other people don’t have our vision. [...]

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