Resources - Useful Stuff

This is where you may find some free useful stuff - useful if you are thinking about setting up or managing a small business or social enterprise.


Concept Outline Worksheet

You may have an idea for a new product or service - but do you find it changes each time you explain it to someone? To develop your brilliant concept you need to spend a bit of time 'fleshing out' exactly what it is (and isn't). This worksheet poses the blindingly obvious questions that sometimes never get asked and even lets you score you idea so you can compare it against others. Download Concept Outline


Sales 'What If' Scenario Builder

This spreadsheet lets you play around with numbers while it calculaes your sales figures, total income and gross profit. You can use this in the early stages of planning but remember to move on to something less formulae driven and more realistic as time goes by. Download Sales Scenario Builder


Sample Cashflow Forecast

A simple template of a cashflow forecast, with associated notes. Download Cashflow template


Sample Profit & Loss Account

A template helping you to work out your gross and net profit figures. Download Profit & Loss template


Sample Balance Sheet

This simple template of a balance sheet lets you know when it doesn't balance! With an associated workbook to record your notes. Download Balance Sheet template


Sample Budget

A simple template allowing you to record estimated real figures and to compare variances, with an associated workbook to record your notes. Download Budget template

Note: all of the above are downloaded as zip files containing Microsoft Excel or Word files.

Things to bear in mind
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Starting a business plan can be a daunting experience, so bear in mind the following points.

  1. Be very clear on what your business plan is for
  2. Make sure you know who will be reading it
  3. Don't be wooly - be specific, use evidence
  4. Nothing fancy, use simple, plain language
  5. Make it clear if something is confidential
  6. Do not 'pad out' your business plan
  7. Proof-read your business plan before releasing it

Full article on the Business Plan Writer Blog