In this section of the business plan you are explaining the journey to your long term plans. After reading this section of the business plan the reader should have a clear view of where you want to be in the future and how you are going to achieve it

In the short term section i would write about how you will achieve your initial sales from the first few weeks to the first year of trading. This will show the reading the sales figures you have written on your cash flow are achievable.

After deciding your short term objectives, amend the below paragraphs in bold and copy it into lesson 7 of your free business plan template.

Lesson 8

Short term

To promote and raise awareness of my services in private sector and public sector. I will promote my services “see advertising” to generate an initial turn over.

Attend events to generate immediate income. To locate, visit and sell products to retail outlets in the local vicinity and target xxxx and xxxxx who wish to stock my products. To sell my products directly to the general public via a website. To establish which are the more popular products and to concentrate on these to generate an early cash flow.

Raise awareness of the business through low cost media such as; establishing links with other websites, attending networking events, contacting local publications for “free” editorials, distributing marketing emails to local business, posting fliers and following with a telephone call.

Later on in the business plan there will be a section on advertising where you will write about how you plan to promote your business.

Medium term

Medium term tends to be the 2-3 year stage. At this stage your business might be looking to develop new services or break into new markets. Here you are showing the reader your future plans by broadening your advertising to reach more clients.

After deciding your medium term objectives, amend the below paragraphs in bold and copy it into lesson 8 of your free business plan template, under
Lesson 8

Medium Term

To further promote my business to a wider geographical area using the medium of radio, newspapers, website and poster campaign. Expand my services to these areas by offering a mail out service which will increase turnover.

To use the figures from these sales to expand the business. To create an expanded product range based around the best selling products. To expand my marketing activities to include catalogues, trade shows and specialist trade magazines, in order to increase my customer base. To create a website, then advertise it through specialist magazines and the internet.

To further promote my business to a wider geographical area through yellow pages and linking the web site to yell.com. Expand my business outside of my home into larger premises to cope with larger orders and increasing demand.

Long term

The next stage is your long term plans. This is where you want the business to end up such as a chain on shops, a franchise or an international exporter.

After deciding your long term objectives, amend the below paragraphs in bold and copy it into lesson 8 of your free business plan template, under
Lesson 8

Long Term

To start a training programme within the organisation to build up a team of highly skill staff and create a national franchise opportunity.

To increase the number of products/services. To create new product ranges and test their popularity through placement in selected outlets. To employ and train staff to produce goods so that i can concentrate on the creation of new products.

After 3 years of trading i wish to franchise my business on a national level. I will produce a franchise brochure which will be given to potential clients via franchise trade shows and through my website

To own a chain of xxxxxx that differentiates itself from other businesses in the market

Having a clear time line of events will help the reader understand where you want to take the business.

Do you have you own suggestions or paragraphs which could help someone? Please leave them in the comments below.