Writing business plans and creating vision statements

Creating business vision statements and writing business plans are often discussed in the context of a start-up business, but in reality it is relevant to all businesses both new and old. You’ll find time planning your business direction and writing business plans is a very worthwhile investment.

In this section you will find practical advice on mind mapping, creating a business vision statement and writing a business plan through to the importance of setting long term business goals, business succession planning and developing business exit strategies.

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Business plans articles

• Working Smarter

  Creating a business plan that is useable

  ‘Business plan’ remains a dusty, conceptual notion for many soloists. Here’s how to bring that document to life so you can start achieving this year's goals right now.

  • Published 02 January 08
  • Megan Hills
  • 3 Comments

• Working Smarter

  How to create a vision statement

  The road to business success can be quite a journey and we need to be clear about where we are going. Having a clear vision statement about the business and lifestyle we are looking to create will greatly increase our chances of success.

  • Published 19 November 07
  • Peter Morgan
  • 4 Comments

• Working Smarter

  Exit strategies: is it right to quit your business?

  It's natural to think about leaving your solo business. Whether you're tempted due to financial, stress-related or personal reasons, you need to consider alternatives before deciding.

  • Published 03 August 07
  • Michele Hackshall
  • 5 Comments

• Working Smarter

  How to make the most of July

  July is either the beginning of a new financial year or the middle of a calendar one. But whatever way you look at it, it is a great month to review our business planning and take stock of how our business is tracking.

  • Published 02 July 07
  • Karen Morath
  • 2 Comments

• Working Smarter

  Practical creative planning with mind mapping

  Does your ‘to do’ list feel like an endless treadmill set on high speed? Practical creative planning with mind Mapping could be the answer. It can help you get back into control, plus it wil inject a bit of colour into your working day.

  • Published 14 May 07
  • Megan Hills
  • 6 Comments

• Working Smarter

  Strategic business planning: Vision, mission and values

  When setting out on their solo journey, some people undertake strategic business planning, while others set off blindly, with no clear direction. Many soloists take the more haphazard approach, and this results in what I call business misery.

  • Published 11 May 07
  • Peter Morgan
  • 11 Comments

• Working Smarter

  Business succession planning: Developing an exit strategy

  Not many soloists give a good deal of thought to business succession planning and developing an exit strategy, yet one of the key requirements of a successful business is to know how you want your involvement to end up.

  • Published 04 April 07
  • Grant Hyman
  • 7 Comments

• Working Smarter

  A brand new approach to writing a business plan

  A business plan is an essential documents that we are all meant to have, right? So why do so many solo professionals not have one? Here's a new approach to writing a business plan.

  • Published 23 September 05
  • Megan Tough

• Working Smarter

  Business vision: the importance of long term goals

  In our book Flying Solo - How to go it alone in business, Sam and I talk a great deal about the role and importance of holding a buiness vision. Having long term goals can help you make decisions every day.

  • Published 20 July 05
  • Robert Gerrish
  • 2 Comments