December 31, 2009
The purpose of a business plan template is to give you an overall structure in which to express your business plan.
Think about this question for a moment:-
Could you take a blank sheet of canvas and paint a beautiful picture of a forest?
Chances are, if you’re like me, this would be impossible. BUT if there was an outline and you had to paint by a series of numbers then many people would be able to complete a reasonable painting.
This is the reason why using a template can be very useful.
You will find that there are many templates which you can use, however remember that where most business plans fail is in the numbers that are presented.
Banks require the numbers to be prepared in a certain way and often this determines the format of the template.
What’s your experience of using a template?
Did it help you get your thoughts down on paper more easily?
What’s the best template that you’ve found or used?
December 29, 2009
Knowing the best way to use cash in your business is a key to ensuring you don’t run into cash flow problems. Today we look at the issue of the best way to finance asset purchases in your business.
We also discuss the the other place in your business where you will need to invest cash and where this might come from.
The Vlog series comes from One Sherpa an online global membership community dedicated to helping small business owners succeed and prosper.
The series is filmed on location around Melbourne, Australia and answers questions commonly asked by small business owners
This video is filmed of the Melbourne Skyline from The Strand, Williamstown and answers the question Should I Buy My Assets or Lease Them?
Tags: Budgeting,
Business,
business management,
business performance,
business planning,
coaching,
Debt reduction,
financial education,
Financial Freedom,
how money works,
Management,
Mentoring,
money,
performance management,
Small business,
SME,
understanding numbers,
wealth,
wealth creation December 24, 2009
When I meet a small business owner and mention the term business plan, their eyes normally glaze over because it’s a document that isn’t an integral part of their business and is only prepared to get finance or show someone else how their business is supposed to perform.
That’s right… supposed to perform because most businesses never meet what’s in their business plan. (Just ask your bank who sees the results when businesses miss their business plan)
So what does a simple business plan look like?
It get’s to the point fast and is not full of statistics and jargon that sound good to other people but make no sense to the business owner.
A simple business plan is a plan of action with measurable goals that the small business owner can understand and know how to achieve
In fact, a business model is the simplest form of business plan. It is a model of how to achieve a sustainable business and the business owner understands both the words and numbers presented.
What’s your experience of business plan and business model?
Do you have a simple way of understanding how the words and numbers work in your business?
Have you spotted a really simple format that works for you?
December 22, 2009
In this Vlog clip Andee looks at perhaps the most critical area that impacts on the money flow in your business.
He also gives you a simple way to check if you have got too much money tied up in the working capital in your business.
The Vlog series comes from One Sherpa an online global membership community dedicated to helping small business owners succeed and prosper.
The series is filmed on location around Melbourne, Australia and answers questions commonly asked by small business owners
This video is filmed from the Westgate Bridge and answers the question How Do I Work Out How Much Working Capital To Have In My Business?
Tags: Business,
business management,
business performance,
business planning,
Cash Flow,
financial education,
money,
performance management,
Small business,
SME,
working capital 
