Operation Business Plan. Vision. Mission. This is the good stuff, the part where you summarize your business and talk about the things that make you tick.
You probably have ideas about your vision and mission already. The purpose of writing them down is threefold:
- to identify and clarify your ideas by writing them down;
- to serve as a road map for your business; and
- to give you some awesome, authentic fuel for your marketing efforts.
This post is part of a series on writing your business plan. Subscribe to my mailing list to get instant access to download the free Wonder Thinking Business Plan-o-Rama workbook and get working on your business plan!
Let’s get started. For each section, write as much as you care to. If you’re feeling stuck, skip that section, let it simmer in your brain a bit, and come back to it later. This business plan is for you and should be considered a living document– your answers may change over time (and probably should).
1. Business Description – What kind of business are you in? What do you do? A short description will do.
2. Vision – What’s the big picture for you and your business? What do you see in your future? Where do you want to be in one year, five years, ten years? Short is okay, as long as your answer digs deep into the things that really turn you on. We’ll dive deeper and write more about future plans later.
3. Mission Statement – A mission statement is usually a couple of sentences explaining your business purpose and philosophy. A well crafted, authentic mission statement provides a strong foundation for your business plans and marketing efforts.
To get your creative juices stirring for your mission statement, consider these questions:
If you are an artist/crafter/thing-maker/designer, what inspires you? How did you get started doing the thing you do? What do you love about the things you make/design? What is important to you in your business? What do you hope your customers will find in your product/service?
4. Customer Profile – Who buys your stuff? Write a brief description, we’ll dive deeper into this topic later.
5. Strengths and Challenges – What are your strengths and weaknesses regarding your business? How will you use your strengths to your best advantage? What will you do to develop your areas of weakness?
6. Business Structure – What is the legal form of your business? Sole Proprietorship, Limited Liability Corporation (LLC), Partnership, Corporation? Why did you choose this form?
Again, this business plan is for you. Some questions may be hard to answer and that’s okay. The point is to get started thinking and writing.
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Image: Beginning. Original photograph by Tricia McKellar. © All rights reserved.
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please add me to your mailing list and send the free Wonder Business Plan O Rama in pdf form.
Thanks bunches for making this available!
Klosette
Thanks Klosette!
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