#Business Plan
Crafting your business plan: A step-by-step guide
Thinking about starting a small business but feeling uncertain about how to develop a business plan? You’re not alone—creating a clear and effective plan can seem overwhelming at first, but it’s a crucial step toward turning your vision into a thriving enterprise. A well-structured business plan not only helps you map out your goals and […]
Five actions to supercharge your business
A new financial year plan can make all the difference for your SME It’s never-ending for business owners: if it’s not BAS time, it’s EOFY, then the cycle starts all over again. With the EOFY rush receding, July as the first month of the new financial year is a great time to take stock. Scottish […]
A new year, a new plan: five ways to transform your small business
The start of a new financial year is an ideal time for business owners to take stock of the business, review progress towards growth goals, and re-align plans as necessary. While there is no one-size-fits-all approach for businesses to make their planning more effective, there are a number of key considerations that can help business […]
Never make these mistakes when you use a business plan to raise funds for investments
Every single potential investor you contact wants to see a believable and highly readable business plan that contains a summary, the overview of the team, details about financials and a whole lot more. Many think that funding is going to come fast after the plan is submitted but this is just one of the mistakes […]
How to save money when starting a new business
After years of experience and building a successful strategy, seasoned business owners can branch out into new areas with relative ease. A newcomer, however, will lack the necessary resources and experience for striking up a successful new business overnight. It takes hard work, careful planning, and proper financial management to create and sustain a company […]
The ten reasons why startups fail
Fail in high school and you are usually graded an F; the same is true of startups. Depending on who you ask, there are a multitude of reasons why startups fail. Each strand of startup DNA contributes its own reasons for failure, but all of them relate directly to one of the ‘3 Fs’: Founder […]
The hidden costs of starting a business
Startups with good a business plan give comfort to entrepreneurs and investors in part because the plan details the objectives, strategies and tactics along with the anticipated profits. There is however a wide variation in business plans. Some are voluminous demonstrations of thorough research, while some exist as a mere template borrowed from the internet to meet the formalities. Others, […]
Full of beans: How Frank Andrews left behind banking and built a coffee roasting empire
Four years ago, Sydney’s Frank Andrews began to transition away from a nearly 20-year career in the banking sector, where he was earning a six-figure sum, to pursue his passion for coffee roasting as a legitimate business. With limited hospitality experience, he faced an uphill battle – especially considering the fiercely competitive nature of the local café […]
How “living in the present” can help you to plan for the future success of your business
By the time you have read the title of this article there is a 50/50 chance that you have got something else on your mind as well. In 2010, Harvard psychologists carried out a study that tracked people’s activities, their thoughts and their feelings at random intervals. They found that just under 50% of the […]
Don’t let new year goals destabilise growth
A new year inevitably leads to new business goals but what many SME owners don’t realise is that these goals could trigger compulsive behaviours and actually stunt a company’s growth. There are only two types of goals business owners make – objective and subjective – the latter will negatively impact profits and workplace culture. Subjective […]
Business plans will be obsolete in 2017
Yes, you read that right. It’s time to ditch that 30-page document and put it in the bin where it belongs. Professionals agree that writing a formal business plan is not the best strategy, most especially for SMEs that have limited time and resources. Not having a business plan doesn’t mean you’re going to spend […]
Five things start-ups should ask potential investors before signing the dotted line
Entrepreneurs start businesses to solve problems facing customers or to improve the way customer needs are satisfied. In the event that on-hand funding is insufficient to fully realise the potential of their proposed business, an entrepreneur will need to seek assistance from investors. Finding the right financial partner can be challenging. There are key things you should ask to […]
It started with a bright idea: top tools for developing and writing a brilliant business plan
Ideas and execution go hand in hand. There is no greater importance placed on either aspect of starting and running a successful business. Without one another, a business cannot wish to exist and succeed. Ideas and plans exist together. Once you’ve established a grand idea, it’s time to put that into a master plan and […]
Building Blocks: Creating a Strong Foundation for Your E-Commerce Startup
You’re tired of the daily grind. It’s time for something different. E-commerce seems like the right move. It’s easy to get set up, and it’s a proven business model. Here’s how to get started. How To Find A Good Market It all starts with product research. Actually, it starts with market research. If you don’t […]
An action plan is just as important as a business plan
An action plan could save thousands of small businesses from going bust but as many as eighty percent don’t take the time to make one despite its proven success. I’m not talking about a five-year plan with detailed budget forecasts, but an annual action plan that is reviewed regularly and updated quarterly. I’ve seen first […]
Entrepreneurs! Why you need to invest in yourself to succeed
Drive and determination is what makes many entrepreneurs successful, but as well as being your greatest strength, it can also be your greatest weakness.
Flying or failing: industry sectors set for success in 2014
There is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to business success, however economists and trend watchers concur that some sectors have greater potential for prosperity in 2014 than others.
Key ingredients of a great business plan
Although the current economic climate may not be seem conducive to starting a business, it remains true that one of the biggest causes of failure for any Australian venture is poor planning.
How to build a lean and efficient business plan
Your business plan must be ready to accommodate rapid changes so that your company can follow suit. Here are five ways to make your business plan as effective as possible.
10 questions to ask before quitting your job to start a business
How do you know when the time is right to make the leap? Here’s what you need to consider before giving up the security of a full-time job.
How to make your 5 year business plan
We know that managing a small business is exhausting but it’s worth taking some time to think about the next few years – how will your business manage the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead?
Why you need an exit plan from day dot
The sooner you begin thinking about life after your business, the better prepared you will be for that day and the more likely it will happen on your terms. Here’s what you need to consider when putting yours together.
The 20-minute business model
Can you put your entire business model down on paper in 20 minutes? Author Ash Maurya shows us how.
Spring clean your finances in 6 steps
As anyone running a business will know, it’s all too easy to slip into bad habits when it comes to financial management. So, just as you’d spring clean your house, September is also the time to revisit your finances.