BUSINESS PLANS
At the organisational level business planning sets-out the enterprises’ long term goals and objectives. Business planning helps foresee and manage risk and leads to longer-term profitability and stability. Structured planning also helps reduce management frustration and communicates the firm’s vision to staff and investors. At the departmental level business plans drive the day-to-day projects required to achieve the company’s financial, marketing and operational objectives.
What to include in your Business Plan
Your business plan will not be completed in a single draft. The plan may require input from different people, but the final version should be the responsibility of the owners or senior management. The plan covers almost every aspect of the business, therefore it is best to start collecting the information you need early. This may take a number of weeks or even months. As you research material - store it. Write down your ideas as they occur. The level of detail required will depend on the size and nature of your enterprise. Your business plan should include sections on:
Your business plan will not be completed in a single draft. The plan may require input from different people, but the final version should be the responsibility of the owners or senior management. The plan covers almost every aspect of the business, therefore it is best to start collecting the information you need early. This may take a number of weeks or even months. As you research material - store it. Write down your ideas as they occur. The level of detail required will depend on the size and nature of your enterprise. Your business plan should include sections on:
- Industry background
- The product or service
- The market
- Operations
- Management
- Implementation schedule
- Finance
- Executive summary
How to Get Started on your Business Plan
The are many different types of business plan. From plans prepared for a board, stakeholders or investors; through to capital, product development and risk management plans. We can provide your team with a briefing guide to to help them get started on your business plan project. To obtain your copy, complete the enquiry form on the contact us page.
The Business Contingency Plan
Creating a contingency plan is most often overlooked or forgotten when times are good, and business is booming. Unfortunately, as we have seen, it does not take much to completely turn things around. In a crises situation you may be required to present your contingency plan to government agencies, shareholders, creditors or insurers, in order to obtain relief funding.
Contingency planning is the process of building a procedure to prepare for the absolute worst. When things go wrong, the plan is there to salvage your business and provide an opportunity to get things back on track again. Most contingency situations are out of your control. History shows that following a crisis societies and organisations never go back to the place where they started. This generates an imperative to think outside the box to create and test new business models. There will always be a new crisis on the horizon like new pandemics, climate action failure, governance failure, cyber warfare and the collapse of economies. The 15th edition of the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report lists the top threats to society, economies and businesses in order of likelihood as:
Applied Support Services can supply customised templates and guidance on preparing a contingency plan for your circumstances. You can obtain your copy of our guide on how to prepare and maintain a contingency plan by downloading the pdf file below.
Creating a contingency plan is most often overlooked or forgotten when times are good, and business is booming. Unfortunately, as we have seen, it does not take much to completely turn things around. In a crises situation you may be required to present your contingency plan to government agencies, shareholders, creditors or insurers, in order to obtain relief funding.
Contingency planning is the process of building a procedure to prepare for the absolute worst. When things go wrong, the plan is there to salvage your business and provide an opportunity to get things back on track again. Most contingency situations are out of your control. History shows that following a crisis societies and organisations never go back to the place where they started. This generates an imperative to think outside the box to create and test new business models. There will always be a new crisis on the horizon like new pandemics, climate action failure, governance failure, cyber warfare and the collapse of economies. The 15th edition of the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report lists the top threats to society, economies and businesses in order of likelihood as:
- Extreme weather
- Climate action failure
- Natural disasters
- Biodiversity loss
- Human-made environmental disasters
- Data fraud or theft
- Cyber attacks
- Water crises
- Global governance failure
- Asset bubbles
Applied Support Services can supply customised templates and guidance on preparing a contingency plan for your circumstances. You can obtain your copy of our guide on how to prepare and maintain a contingency plan by downloading the pdf file below.
| Contingency Plan |
Climate Change - Business Response Plan
As countries and governments commit to becoming carbon neutral the transition will require many businesses to change how they operate. New business models will be required to enable firms to move from high to low carbon operations. Companies are facing growing pressure to disclose the risks and opportunities that climate change presents, as well as the strategies they are using to respond to them. The pressure to disclose, and to act, can come from government emissions targets, shareholders, regulators, consumers and financial institutions.
Government Mandates for Low Carbon Transition Plans
New Zealand is the first country to pass laws requiring banks, insurers and investment managers to report the impacts of climate change on their business. About 200 of the largest financial firms in New Zealand, including banks with total assets of more than NZ$1 billion ($718.90 million), large insurers and equity and debt issuers listed on the country's stock exchange will have to make disclosures. The new laws will require financial firms to explain how they would manage climate-related risks and opportunities, and the disclosure requirements will be based on standards from New Zealand's independent accounting body the External Reporting Board (XRB). In November 2021 the UK government announced mandatory carbon transition plans for large firms and financial institutions.
We can help you, and your team, brainstorm. draft and communicate your business response, or low carbon transition plan, including:
As countries and governments commit to becoming carbon neutral the transition will require many businesses to change how they operate. New business models will be required to enable firms to move from high to low carbon operations. Companies are facing growing pressure to disclose the risks and opportunities that climate change presents, as well as the strategies they are using to respond to them. The pressure to disclose, and to act, can come from government emissions targets, shareholders, regulators, consumers and financial institutions.
Government Mandates for Low Carbon Transition Plans
New Zealand is the first country to pass laws requiring banks, insurers and investment managers to report the impacts of climate change on their business. About 200 of the largest financial firms in New Zealand, including banks with total assets of more than NZ$1 billion ($718.90 million), large insurers and equity and debt issuers listed on the country's stock exchange will have to make disclosures. The new laws will require financial firms to explain how they would manage climate-related risks and opportunities, and the disclosure requirements will be based on standards from New Zealand's independent accounting body the External Reporting Board (XRB). In November 2021 the UK government announced mandatory carbon transition plans for large firms and financial institutions.
We can help you, and your team, brainstorm. draft and communicate your business response, or low carbon transition plan, including:
- Developing climate change and low carbon goals and targets for your business
- Creating the action plans, budgets and timeframes required to achieve your objectives
- Communicating your climate change plans to your team, management and stakeholders
- Identifying funding opportunities for reducing GHG emissions
Business Plan Audience and Presentation Formats
Having a current business plan is an important decision making tool. The content and the format of your business plan is determined by your goals and your audience. We can help you prepare business plans for attracting outside investors, business funding or setting management objectives. We can help you research and collect the information you need from different parts of your business.
Elevator Pitch: A thirty second to one minute summary of the business plan. This is often used as a teaser to awaken the interest of potential funders, customers or strategic partners.
Verbal Presentation: A verbal narrative that is meant to trigger discussion and interest potential investors in reading the written presentation. The content of the presentation is usually limited to the executive summary and a few key graphs showing financial trends and key decision making points. If a new product is being proposed and time permits, a demonstration of the product may also be included.
Written Presentation: A detailed, well written, and pleasingly formatted plan usually targeted at the board, shareholders, external stakeholders and potential business partners. This documentation usually includes supporting information to support the business case. For example detailed financial statements, technical drawings, management CV’s, or market studies.
Having a current business plan is an important decision making tool. The content and the format of your business plan is determined by your goals and your audience. We can help you prepare business plans for attracting outside investors, business funding or setting management objectives. We can help you research and collect the information you need from different parts of your business.
Elevator Pitch: A thirty second to one minute summary of the business plan. This is often used as a teaser to awaken the interest of potential funders, customers or strategic partners.
Verbal Presentation: A verbal narrative that is meant to trigger discussion and interest potential investors in reading the written presentation. The content of the presentation is usually limited to the executive summary and a few key graphs showing financial trends and key decision making points. If a new product is being proposed and time permits, a demonstration of the product may also be included.
Written Presentation: A detailed, well written, and pleasingly formatted plan usually targeted at the board, shareholders, external stakeholders and potential business partners. This documentation usually includes supporting information to support the business case. For example detailed financial statements, technical drawings, management CV’s, or market studies.
Business Models
To succeed today, your enterprise needs to continually adapt and evolve. New and innovative business models are transforming traditional industries and markets. Some firms respond to changing market conditions by continual product innovation. Others look at new and innovative ways of adjusting and refining their business model. We can help you identify the building blocks of your business model and:
- Create new ideas for value propositions based on your capabilities
- Align your value propositions to your customer segments
- Evaluate your channels to market and customer relationships
- Model alternative revenue streams
- Identify what key resources are required to make the business model work
- Plan the key activities needed to deliver the value proposition
- Recognise what alliances and partnerships are required to optimise the business model
- Calculate the costs required to operate the business model
Working with these basic building blocks, you will gain a better understanding of how your current business model works and develop ideas for new and different business models for your firm or enterprise. New and innovative business ideas can be generated from the skills, experience and talent within your organisation. We can provide you with a business model design and evaluation process that all of your team members can work with and understand. Using workshop based brainstorming, we can facilitate the process of generating and testing new business ideas. Your business model defines the direction and strategy of your enterprise. Your business case and business plan provide the reality check on how your business model will work in practice. To learn more about the business model canvas visit the strategyzer website.
Business Case Preparation
A business case captures the reasoning for initiating either transformational programmes or one off business projects. The business case is presented in a well-structured written document along with a verbal arguments and presentations. It may address management, economic, financial, commercial and strategic perspectives. The logic of the business case is that whatever resources the enterprise uses - they should be in support of a specific business need. The business case helps management, stakeholders and investors evaluate projects in terms of their value, risk and relative priority.
A well-reasoned business case sets out the benefits you need to achieve and at what cost. It helps determine if your investment in the project is likely to generate a worthwhile return. We can assist your organisation:
Many business projects fail because of poor planning, lack of leadership or internal competition for resources. We are experienced at working with managers and their teams to prepare the business case justification required to fund their projects. To learn more about the New Zealand Treasury - Better Business Case methodology visit their website.
A business case captures the reasoning for initiating either transformational programmes or one off business projects. The business case is presented in a well-structured written document along with a verbal arguments and presentations. It may address management, economic, financial, commercial and strategic perspectives. The logic of the business case is that whatever resources the enterprise uses - they should be in support of a specific business need. The business case helps management, stakeholders and investors evaluate projects in terms of their value, risk and relative priority.
A well-reasoned business case sets out the benefits you need to achieve and at what cost. It helps determine if your investment in the project is likely to generate a worthwhile return. We can assist your organisation:
- Define the background, the business need and the project opportunity
- Identify the viable options
- Undertake an analysis of the likely costs and risks of the different options
- Prepare recommendations on the preferred option
- Manage and monitor the project to ensure it achieves its objectives
Many business projects fail because of poor planning, lack of leadership or internal competition for resources. We are experienced at working with managers and their teams to prepare the business case justification required to fund their projects. To learn more about the New Zealand Treasury - Better Business Case methodology visit their website.
Our Experience
Applied Support Services is experienced working with managers and their teams through all phases of the business planning process. We will help you establish realistic objectives, strategies, budgets and timetables. We have prepared business plans for private and state sectors organisations, both locally and internationally. To help you get started on your business plan project click on the link below, complete and send the form.
Applied Support Services is experienced working with managers and their teams through all phases of the business planning process. We will help you establish realistic objectives, strategies, budgets and timetables. We have prepared business plans for private and state sectors organisations, both locally and internationally. To help you get started on your business plan project click on the link below, complete and send the form.
This page was last updated on 17 November 2021