There is a old saying "failing to plan .. is planning to fail". Many small businesses do not see the value in business planning - stating that they simply do not have the time for this. This is a shame, as with a little effort and some thought, you can have an indepth knowledge of the environment in which you operate and this can help you plan for a great variery of situations and contingencies.

How to write a business plan that works is a simple guide to business planning and should be undertaken by anyone serious about succeeding in their business. If nothing else, it will provide a roadmap for future direction.

Step by step guide to business planning;

• looking at your past performance - how you got where you are now
• looking at your current business environment
• political and legislative considerations
• analysing your strengths and weaknesses
• what are your competitors doing?
• drawing conclusions from your research
• setting objectives and key strategies
• developing an action plan