Business planning
A business plan is a written document that describes your business and outlines how you will achieve your business goal, by detailing the objectives, strategies, sales, marketing, and financial forecasts.
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It is a tool to help you focus your vision and document your plans to manage, deliver, develop, and sustain your business effectively.
Having a good business plan will enable you to identify not only where you want your business to be but also how you are going to get there.
What do I have to include in my business plan?
Suggested sections for a business plan for a childcare setting are:
- Executive Summary
- The Business
- The Market and Competition (Market Research)
- Aims and Objectives
- Marketing and Sales
- Quality of Childcare and Workforce
- Operational considerations
- Financial forecasts
- Finance needs
- Risks
The business planning workbook has more details and information for each section suggested above.
Note: your business plan can have slightly different sections from those suggested as you will see from other examples of business plan toolkits.
Further information
The following websites provide further information and useful tools and resources.
- GOV.UK: setting up a business
- Childcare Works - HUB for providers - Business planning support
- NDNA: Free online courses
- PACEY: Business Planning