You need a plan for building and running your business. Having a plan will help you develop actionable items and a timeline to complete them in. A business plan helps you outline your business structure, how you plan to get clients, the services you will offer and what you will charge for them.
Without a business plan, you just have an idea that will go nowhere.
Here are four steps you can’t miss when building your business plan:
- Set SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Aspirational, Realistic, and Time Bound. Take the time to figure out your goals so you can focus on what’s most important for driving results. For example, “In 6 months, we will have monthly billable revenue of $10,000 by networking at local events and speaking to local Chambers to raise awareness.”
- Define your USP (unique selling proposition): Do you plan to specialize in a certain industry niche? What makes your business unique? Why would a business hire you vs. your competition?
- Build a marketing plan. Apply the principles of good social media marketing to your own business plan. Be active on social media, have a functional website, and make sure your brand has a positive reputation by building positive reviews and mentions.
- Set your prices. Don’t undervalue yourself. Charge what is right for the service that you offer, and the clients you want to attract.
Spend some time building a plan up front and focus on building a realistic and manageable business plan. Consider the time you will need on each step, and plan for it!
Leave a Reply