Enterprise Planning Help
Many years ago, while supporting new businesses through enterprise programmes, I discovered that most people don't fail because they lack enthusiasm or ability. They struggle because they start without the tools needed to test their assumptions and plan effectively.
The resources below have been developed and refined over more than two decades of working with entrepreneurs, charities and social enterprises. They are designed to help you understand the realities of starting and running a business, from calculating costs and pricing your work to understanding customers, managing cashflow and assessing risk.
Good planning will never guarantee success, but it can help you avoid many of the mistakes that lead good ideas into difficulty.
All of these downloads are completely free. If they are helpful, then please follow me on one of my socials.
Minimum Sustainable Income
Before calculating prices, forecasts or profit, first understand the income your business needs to generate to support the life you want to build.
Market Research
It's easy to fall in love with an idea. The challenge is finding out whether enough other people feel the same way. This guide will help you carry out practical market research and better understand the customers you hope to serve.
SWOT Analysis Worksheet
A SWOT Analysis will help you organise and challenge your assumptions. By bringing together what you know about yourself, your customers, your competitors and the wider environment, it reveals opportunities and risks that might otherwise be overlooked.
Advertising Cost to Benefit
Many businesses spend money on advertising without ever knowing whether it worked. This worksheet helps you track where enquiries and sales originate, allowing you to focus your time and money on the activities that generate real results. Over time, this simple exercise will reveal which marketing channels work and, more importantly, which consume resource.
Business Overheads
This focuses on what the business itself costs. This worksheet will help you identify the true cost of running your enterprise.
Competitor Analysis
Businesses worry when they discover competitors. In reality, competition is evidence that customers exist. This guide will help you understand who you are competing with, what they do well, and where opportunities lay to stand out.
Sales Forecast
Every business plan ultimately rests on a simple question: how many customers are likely to buy from you? This worksheet will help you create a realistic sales forecast and turn assumptions about demand into measurable income projections.
Cashflow Worksheet
In business, cash is more important than profit. Suppliers and HMRC all expect to be paid on time.
This worksheet will help you forecast the movement of cash in and out of your business, identify potential shortfalls and take corrective action before potential problems arise.
Calculate Your Worth
Combining your personal income with the cost of running your business, allows you to calculate the minimum hourly rate needed to earn and pay the bills.
PEST Analysis
No business exists in a vacuum. Changes in policy, the economy and technology all have a significant impact on your success. This guide will help you understand these factors and prepare for change before it arrives.
Minimum Selling Price
A common mistakes made by new businesses is pricing products based solely on what they cost to buy or make. This worksheet helps you calculate the minimum selling price needed to cover your costs and create a sustainable business.
Trading Form
Many people choose a trading structure because it feels familiar or because somebody recommended it. However, the right structure depends on the level of risk, the amount of control you want to retain, your funding needs and your long-term plans. This guide will help you understand the main options and make a more informed decision.