Whether you’re a fan of New Year’s resolutions or not, the beginning of a new year is still undeniably a perfect time to reflect. Coming back into the work environment (hopefully feeling recharged from the holidays), you’re in a prime position to identify what you want to achieve in the year ahead. Your books should be in order from before the break, or if not, this is a good chance to get your business organised before 2023 takes its hold.
Of course, writing a business plan takes time. But thankfully, there are plenty of sources to help you get started or give you a ready-to-go framework to update what you already have.
Top Sites to Help You Create a Killer Business Plan
Here are all the free support, resources and guides available in the UK to help you write a business plan to step it up in 2023.
1. Gov.uk
The UK government website has a lot of free resources for businesses. Specifically for writing a business plan, gov.uk offers templates, examples, how-to guides and even details on why you need one in the first place.
Gov.uk is also a great resource for finding information about registering your business and advice on funding.
2. Start Up Donut
If you’re just starting out or you’re still in the start-up phase, Start Up Donut is a fantastic source to follow. They offer jargon-free information and guides on a range of topics, including business planning, such as how to write and maintain your business plan. This helpful advice comes straight from experienced entrepreneurs, so it’s definitely worth a read.
3. UK Government’s Business Support Finder
Beyond the business planning resources mentioned above, the UK Government’s Business Support Finder is a tab to keep open as questions arise in your business planning. Here you can find information about Government-backed schemes, financial help, tax information and other topics that will be necessary to research as you build the details of your plan.
4. GrowthBusiness.co.uk
GrowthBusiness.co.uk is a great source of business advice and insights from experienced entrepreneurs that have been in the game for years. Looking beyond the basics of writing a plan, here you can find tips on putting together an investor-friendly document, assessing your funding requirements and more in-depth guides to help you take your plan to the next level.
5. The MGroup
At The MGroup, we do more than just accounting and financial services. We regularly post articles and guides on business planning, accounting and strategy on our blog. We also have a dedicated resource hub for businesses with information covering every aspect of operations, including employees, partnerships, running your business, setting up a Limited company and selling or starting your business.
As Oxfordshire locals, we focus on the opportunities and schemes available in this area, offering more nuanced information for businesses in our region.
Tips to Write the Ultimate Business Plan
Once you’ve got the how-to down pat, it’s time to write your plan.
- You want to start with an incredible amount of detail to ensure every aspect of your business plan is thoroughly thought out.
- Then, you need to organise and make it more concise. Your executive summary gives you and your staff something to look back on to keep your eyes on the prize. It can be all too easy to get caught up in the day-to-day and forget your ultimate goal.
- Be specific about the steps you will take to deliver on your plan. Again, keep it concise but clearly show your action points to reach your goals.
- Know your market. Identify your competitors, buyers, their behaviours, and how you compete or win the favour.
- Get your numbers right. Your numbers will help you assess the liquidity of your business and what you want to achieve. You have to work with the right numbers to predict the right outlook. Write worst-case and best-case forecasts to ensure you know the range within where you will finish the year.
Check out our article Top Tips to Write a Powerful 2023 Business Plan for a more detailed guide.
For accounting support, The MGroup is here to help. Contact us today to learn more about our business services, or visit our blog for more tips and articles to propel your business forward.