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By Purple Fox Legal

January 4, 2023

A business plan is a crucial document for any company, serving as a roadmap for both short-term and long-term goals. It outlines the steps a business will take to achieve its objectives and provides a clear path for growth. 

In addition to providing a framework for day-to-day operations, a business plan is also essential for defining a company’s growth strategy. By outlining the steps needed to reach specific milestones, a business plan helps companies stay focused and on track as they work towards their ultimate goals. In this article, we will delve into the importance of business plans in general and explore how they can be used to define a company’s growth strategy.

Comprehensive Business Plans Are Necessary for Driven Entrepreneurs 

Business plans are important for every company because they serve as a roadmap for the organization’s future. A business plan outlines the goals, strategies, and actions that a company will take to achieve its objectives. It provides a clear direction for the company and helps to ensure that all employees are working towards the same goals. Additionally, a business plan helps to identify potential challenges and opportunities that the company may face in the future, allowing the organization to adapt and pivot as needed.

Another reason that business plans are important is that they help attract investors, lenders, and other stakeholders. A well-written business plan demonstrates that a company has a clear understanding of its market, competition, and financial projections. It also shows that the company has a solid plan in place for how it will use resources and generate revenue. By presenting a convincing business plan, a company can increase its chances of securing funding and support from external parties.

Specifically, below are six key reasons you need to have a business plan:

1. Legitimize the business idea.
2. Give your business a foundation for success.
3. Obtain funding and investments.
4. Hire the right people.
5. Communicate your needs.
6. Make it easier to sell your business in the future.

Studies have shown companies that plan and review their results regularly grow 30 percent faster. Business plans also help entrepreneurs set achievable goals and milestones.

Benefits of Periodic Review and Revision

It is important to differentiate between business plans and strategic plans. Generally, business plans are used to launch a business and tend to cover a one-year timeframe. They cover all the main functions like marketing, operations, and finance. Business plans can be also helpful at times when an existing business is undergoing significant restructuring. Meanwhile, strategic plans typically cover the next three to five years and define the strategic direction of a company, its goals, and performance indicators.

Entrepreneurs should revise their business plan annually and create a new strategic plan based on the improved business plan every year. A strategic plan can build on your business plan to help you move in the right direction. During the strategic planning process, you’ll draw from a lot of the fundamental business elements you built early on to establish your strategy for the next three to five years.

The road to strategic planning (which comes after writing or revising a business plan) typically includes the five steps listed below:

1. Implementing a SWOT analysis.
2. Identifying your business goals.
3. Developing your plan.
4. Executing the plan.
5. Revising and updating as needed.

Entrepreneurs should periodically review and revise their business plans and strategic initiatives to ensure that they remain relevant and effective. This is especially important in today’s fast-paced world, where market conditions, customer needs, and competitive landscapes can change quickly. By reviewing and revising their business plans and strategic initiatives on a regular basis (but at least annually), entrepreneurs can stay ahead of these changes and make necessary adjustments to their operations and marketing efforts.

The frequency of review should be annual or quarterly, depending on the needs and goals of the business. An annual review allows entrepreneurs to take a long-term view of their business and make strategic decisions based on their vision and mission. A quarterly review, on the other hand, allows entrepreneurs to be more agile and responsive to changes in the market, as they can make adjustments to their plans and initiatives on a shorter timeline. The frequency of review and revision may depend on the specific industry a business operates within. Regardless, it is important for entrepreneurs to be proactive and regularly enhance their business plans and strategic initiatives to ensure that they are on track to achieve their SMART goals.

Translating Plan to Execution

Maintaining an updated business plan helps small businesses execute their strategic plans for each business functional area by providing a clear roadmap for the company’s future direction. The business plan outlines the goals and objectives of the business, as well as the strategies and tactics that will be used to achieve them. It also identifies the resources and support that will be required to implement these plans, including personnel, budgets, and technology. By regularly reviewing and updating the business plan, small businesses can ensure that their strategies and actions are aligned with their long-term goals and objectives.

In addition to providing guidance for the overall direction of the business, an updated business plan can also help small businesses execute their strategic plans for each functional area. For example, in the marketing department, the business plan might outline the target market, messaging, and channels that will be used to reach potential customers. In the operations department, the business plan might outline the processes and systems that will be used to produce and deliver products or services. In the customer service department, the business plan might outline the policies and procedures that will be used to resolve customer issues and complaints. Past data can also help identify where improvements can be made. By aligning the business plan with the specific needs and goals of each functional area, small businesses can ensure that they are effectively executing their strategic plans and making progress towards their long-term goals.

Maximizing Opportunities for Growth 

The terms “growth” and “scale” are often used interchangeably. While the two are related, they have distinct differences. Growth refers to increasing revenue at the same rate that a business adds resources—such as new team members, technology, and capital, to name a few. On the other hand, scaling is when an organization identifies ways to grow more efficiently, resulting in revenue growth at a substantially greater rate than increases in resources and expenses.

Scaling a business requires thoughtful, strategic planning. According to data from McKinsey, only 22% of new businesses launched in the past decade have successfully scaled.

Maintaining an updated business plan helps small businesses scale their success in a number of ways. First and foremost, it provides a clear roadmap for the business to follow as it grows. This can help the business stay focused on its long-term goals and objectives, rather than getting sidetracked by short-term distractions. Additionally, an updated business plan can serve as a valuable tool for attracting investors and securing funding, as it demonstrates a clear vision and strategy for growth.

Furthermore, an updated business plan can help small businesses stay agile and adaptable in a rapidly changing business environment. It can provide a framework for identifying and addressing potential challenges or opportunities as they arise, and can help the business make informed decisions about how to allocate resources, time, and energy. 

At a business launch, it can seem too early to start thinking of its growth potential. However, not planning for growth early can present many avoidable problems down the road. That’s why it’s important to create a comprehensive business plan that accounts for your company’s current status and potential future expansion.

Business Plans Lead to Success

In conclusion, business plans are an essential tool for any business owner. They provide a roadmap for success and help owners to set and achieve their goals. Periodic updates of a business plan are important to ensure that the plan remains relevant and up-to-date with the changing business environment. A robust business plan can also help owners to scale their operations and achieve growth. By clearly outlining strategies and objectives, a business plan can help owners to effectively allocate resources and make informed decisions. Overall, the importance of business plans cannot be overstated, and it is crucial for any business owner to invest time and effort into creating and maintaining a comprehensive business plan.