a realistic and focussed business plan
Business planning can be daunting. Although there are many excellent self-help guides available, they do not suit everyone. We can work with you to explain the process and develop a business plan which is realistic and provides focus for everyone in the organisation.
The purpose of the plan is to describe how you will make a profit based on your customer value proposition; in other words, how your offering is differentiated from competitors and the ways in which it is valued by your customers.
why Nova Connection?
We have many years experience developing business plans for small firms. We are experienced, seasoned and qualified marketers who understand strategy and have weathered two recessions:
- 23 years consultancy experience
- Chartered Marketer expertise
- Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing
- Customer references and case studies
aligning objectives and resources
We will help you to get everyone pulling in the same direction by aligning individual, team, departmental and business objectives. Our approach to business planning is to demystify the process by offering jargon-free, practical coaching, facilitation and support. The resulting business plan is tailored to the needs of your business – rather than being an off-the-shelf, tick-the-box template.
gaining real insights from business planning
Although there may be an imperative for producing a business plan, such as the need to obtain finance, we want to add value. The business planning process should provide real insights into the workings of your business, your customers and your markets. As Eisenhower said: The plan is nothing: planning is everything.
the business planning journey
Your business plan describes the journey to be taken over the next few years. To plan that journey, you will need to know the starting point and destination – as well as some information about the terrain. It’s likely that there will be a number of possible routes to consider and evaluate.
In the context of business planning, it’s a common mistake to start planning the journey without having properly analysed the starting point and evaluated alternate destinations.
what goes into a business plan?
While there is no set format for a business plan, it needs to include:
- business overview
- marketing and sales plans
- people – leadership, training and development
- operations – premises, production, IT etc.
- Financials – cash flow, requirements for finance, planned investments
what does a business plan look like?
We frequently use Strategy Maps when preparing business plans as they are visual and easier to communicate to those who have to implement them. Strategy maps are supported by clearly stated objectives, responsibilities and budgets.
Some organisations are more comfortable with traditional text-based documents. We always adapt to the needs of our clients.