Business Plans – What you need to know about South Africa
Researching a business plan, formulating it and ensuring the business plan is realistic and workable are just some of the key criteria when commencing a new business.
When such a business plan is presented as supporting evidence to immigration authorities its importance becomes even more valid.
A business plan is a written document that describes the business, the business objectives, strategies, market segment, forecasts and financial resources.
The functions of a business plan are many but include:
- Providing a template from which to run your business
- Measuring the success of your business
- Setting out financial goals – short and long term
- Quantifying expansion plans
- Raising capital
- Supporting immigration applications
- A review document
- Attracting investors, shareholders and business networking
What should a Business Plan include?
A business plan is a written statement of the journey your business is going to take. It should provide details of how you intend to develop the business, who is going to play a role in this business and how the financial side of the business will be managed.
Clarity on these issues is particularly important if you’re looking for finance, investment or using the business plan to support an immigration application. Your plan should at least include:
- An executive summary
- This is an overview of the business you want to start. This is essential – first impressions count! Many people will be influenced by how well the summary is presented based on the first few pages of your plan.
- Short description of the business opportunity
- This details who you are, what product or service you will supply and why, who you will supply the product to and how.
- Operations
- Including such things as manpower, premises, IT infrastructure, future expansion.
- Marketing and sales strategy
- Who will buy your service or product and why. How will you promote the service in terms of product, placement and pricing.
- Financials
- One of the most important aspects of the business plan. These documents and tables translate everything form the business plan into figures.
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