General Information

How to write a business plan

Your business plan should cover your business idea, the market, your people, your marketing and advertising strategy, your premises and equipment, your setting up costs and overheads, and a break even analysis. The important thing is to cover all the relevant aspects of your business. Lack of hard information or experience may require you to make realistic assessments rather than firm conclusions - you can always adjust your plan later as results come in.

To assist you to write a business plan we have developed "Business Plan Software". You can Contact Us and we will send the CD ROM out to you. (Please see Business Plan Software Guidelines for information on the pc specification required).

Planning is an ongoing process

Once you've put your vision down on paper, don't treat your plan as set in stone. And don't file and forget it! Circumstances change, forecasts and objectives change, and you change with growing experience.

Some businesses produce monthly or quarterly plans, or plans specially written to deal with seasonal variations and particularly demanding times of the year.

It might also be a good idea to produce different versions of the same plan. One version may be for use with outsiders and will be weighted on the conservative side as far as what you expect to achieve in the way of sales and profits. It's the plan that will help ensure that your company is seen in the best possible light by others. Another version will be for your own internal use. The targets will be higher - aspirational as opposed to certain - to encourage the best in your business and employees.

The plan is your responsibility to produce, but help is available if you need it through The Royal Bank of Scotland, Enterprise Agencies, accountants and corporate finance specialists. With your plans set down on paper, the stage is set for you to begin realising them.