Your business, its products and services   You must be able to clearly describe what your business does, whether you are writing the business plan for your own purposes or if you want other people to provide funds through investments or loans. This part of the plan sets out your vision for your new business and includes who you are, what you do, what you have to offer and the… Read More »Your business, its products and services

Your business markets and competitors   In this section you should define your market, your position in it and outline who your competitors are. In order to do this you should refer to any market research you have carried out. You need to demonstrate that you’re fully aware of the marketplace you’re planning to operate in and that you understand any important trends and drivers. You should also be able… Read More »Your business markets and competitors

Financial forecasts for your business plan   As part of your plan you will need to provide a set of financial projections which translate what you have said about your business into numbers. You will need to look carefully at: how much capital you need if you are seeking external funding the security you can offer lenders how you plan to repay any borrowings sources of revenue and income You… Read More »Financial forecasts for your business plan

The audience for your business plan   There are many benefits to creating and managing a realistic business plan. Even if you just use it in-house, it can: help you spot potential pitfalls before they happen structure the financial side of your business efficiently focus your efforts on developing your business work as a measure of your success A business plan is a document that can be used to secure… Read More »The audience for your business plan

Tips for presenting your business plan   To make sure your business plan has maximum impact, there are a number of points to observe. Keep the plan short – it’s more likely to be read if it’s a manageable length. Think about the presentation and keep it professional – even if you only intend to use the plan in-house. Remember, a well-presented plan will reinforce the positive impression you want… Read More »Tips for presenting your business plan

Write a business plan: step-by-step   Introduction It is essential to have a realistic, working business plan when you’re starting up a business. A business plan is a written document that describes a business, its objectives, its strategies, the market it is in and its financial forecasts. It has many functions, from securing external funding to measuring success within your business. This guide will show you how to prepare a… Read More »Write a business plan: step-by-step

What a business plan should include   Your business plan should provide details of how you are going to develop your business, when you are going to do it, who’s going to play a part and how you will manage the finances. Clarity on these issues is particularly important if you’re looking for finance or investment. The process of building your plan will also focus your mind on how your… Read More »What a business plan should include

Telemarketing methods for targeting customers   Once you have decided use telemarketing and have determined your target audience, you need to decide how you will approach your strategy. Contacting customers directly can be an efficient sales device. This is especially true if you intend to tell existing customers about a new product, or one that is similar to something they have previously purchased from you. However, before you begin telemarketing,… Read More »Telemarketing methods for targeting customers

Measuring the success of your telemarketing campaign   To ensure that your telemarketing campaign is effective and efficient, it is important that you evaluate its success at regular intervals. There are a number of methods you can use to measure the results of your campaigns, such as the following: comparing it to previous campaigns from the year before that ran within the same time period keeping track of calls and… Read More »Measuring the success of your telemarketing campaign

Telemarketing planning   If you are planning to use telemarketing for your business, you should determine whether you are operating in business-to-business (B2B) or business-to-consumer (B2C) sales. The skills and expertise required to deal with each group are different. You can either choose to conduct your own telemarketing campaigns or use a provider that offers B2B or B2C telemarketing services. When operating your own telemarketing operation, you need to be… Read More »Telemarketing planning