Do you have a business plan? Is it like mine? A collection of brilliant & amazing ideas. In. Your. Head.
Plans in my head are always awesome. Plans written down are subject to thoughtful inspection. Sigh.
I have no written business plan. It’s been easy to ignore. It’s been easy to have a vague idea of my creative business direction & try to do things that seem to help me along that path.
So why write a business plan at all?
Do you have the feeling it might be time for the next step but you’re not sure what that next step is? Are you getting comfortable with your art/craft/thing but a little part of you wonders if you’re missing the opportunity to stretch a little?
Maybe you get an email with a fabulous offer to join a selling website and it’s beautiful and it’s free and the offer expires soon. But you’re in the middle of another project and you’re not sure if this new, fabulous site is really for you, right now. Should you spend your time on the new site or your current project? Cloning technology isn’t widely available yet, so some choices must be made…
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!
A good business plan is like a map– it shows you where you’ve been and where you’re going.
A glance at the map will tell you if that new site is a really out-of-way detour or if it’s on the route to your destination. Are you planning to increase your retail venues in the coming year? Or will you focus on wholesale? Both? Maybe something else entirely? Some time now thinking about and writing down your direction will keep you on course.
So why write a business plan now? Because it’s 2011 baby! Time to get specific about goals and direction. Something about the act of writing clarifies thoughts.
First, think about how your business plan will be used. Is this road map mainly for you? If your business plan is just for your use, the form and content can be creative.
(If you think you may want to get a loan or venture capital for your business, you might choose a more traditional business plan than we are creating here. The Small Business Administration has resources for writing a traditional business plan.)
The Wonder Thinking Business Plan-o-Rama will include topics:
3. Market Analysis, Competition
4. Marketing Plan
5. Future Plans
We’ll cover each of the topic areas weekly in a blog post. Zero to business plan in 5 weeks. Yeah baby. Tune in Wednesday, January 12 for Vision & Mission.
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This is great that you’re sharing your business plan steps online. I’ve been working on mine and it’s nice to see someone else going thru it.
I just joined your mailing list and plan on doing a business plan with your help. Thanks so much for posting this. Very helpful!
This is a wonderful resource, and makes the process seem much more manageable. Looking forward to getting started! Thanks so much.
This is wonderful! Thank you so much for sharing. I signed up for more great information.
Alie´s last [type] ..Army Book
a great resource -looking forward to expanding on my business plan and hashing it out with your guidance! Thanks!
your building plan download is soooo useful! I can’t wait to start work on it! Thanks a million!
hearttypat´s last [type] ..how i made my own hair fascinator and birdcage veil
I downloaded it and printed it and it’s my fun task for tonight! Thanks!
Is there any info on when & how to evaluate the viability of a business? When should a “craft” jewelry business return a profit? How much profit should there be to warent staying in business?
Wow, you summarized perfectly the way I’ve always thought about a business plan – in my head. I’ve always had vague and lovely ideas of where I’m taking my business, but that’s it. Your post is the first to really inspire me to do something I’ve know for ages I need to do – write a plan and start working it.
Thanks much for the inspiration!
Thank you so much!! I’m on the verge of opening my first Etsy Shop, and I think this will be very helpful!
Thank you for sharing your skills, it’s so generous of you. I haven’t started a business yet but I’d love to and just need to make my direction more concrete. I’m sure te workbook and your articles will help! Thanks again.
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