Business plan

An effective business plan will help to focus your ideas and identify necessary actions to launch your business. It’s also a great way to prioritise your goals and expand on your original ideas to find alternative ways forward.

You’ll also find a well thought out business plan invaluable when applying for funding or attracting business partners.

It’s important to plan realistically with achievable objectives and estimations of both personal and financial input.

Check that you have covered all the key areas, including: corporate structure; management team; products and services; marketplace; competition; marketing strategy and last but not least, financial plans – this should include cash-flow forecasts and operating budgets, with a realistic break even point.

Build in the capability to measure your actual performance against your projections, and contingency plans where possible.

Seek as much professional advice as you can; your local Business Link and local enterprise agencies are excellent starting points.

NFU Mutual offer a wide range of insurance for businesses.

> Business insurance