A business plan is a planning document that sets out the goals, objectives, strategies and proposed activities of an organisation or company. The income statement sets out the financial scenario of the business over a period of time and this information is used by financial institutions and funders to assess the potential of the business offering.

• Preparation of Information
• Start Your Business Plan
• The Draft Business Plan
• Completing Your Business Plan

• Research everything around your Big Business Idea.
• Use the internet at the RED Door Centres to research your idea.
• Talk with people who may have knowledge on this topic if they are available.
• Find books from your local library on business (some libraries have specific library business corners).
• Lookout for newspaper articles, they have business features on specific days and know exactly what is taking place in different sectors of the market.
• Get an idea of what it costs to get premises, or machinery, or staff for your business.
• Set yourself a deadline for the research process
• Your research will help you to get started on the business plan.

• Complete the business plan as best you can using your research information.
• Follow the flow of the guide business plan document and add your information where it fits.
• Keep going!
• Especially if you get stuck, just go to the next area
• A picture of your business will start to emerge.
• It is a great idea to do as much of this on your own, and then bring this to the RED Door manager
• The RED Door manager can then take this input further.
• Here is a simple business plan example to work from.
• Keep going and keep researching.

Reference: Basic Business Plan - designed by Business Partners.co.za

You can also use this RED Door template to develop a simple business plan.

As soon as you are happy that you have done as much as you can, make an appointment with the RED Door staff at the nearest centre and they will assist you to the next stage. It is likely that this is fine-tuning stage of the business plan so that it has even more information and is even more compelling for your funding stage. Do not forget, RED Door advisors have up-to-date insight into business sectors, so they will be ready to do this with you. You may have to continue to research the information yourself, and they will guide you on specific areas to improve.

They will also allocate you a bookkeeper or a cost accountant to work with you on the income statement to work out the financial viability of your business idea if you cannot do this yourself. There will be a fee for this service. You can also RED Door advisors if there is a Basic Accounting Course that you could attend. This will be valuable skills to learn for the future of the business.

Reminder: Make sure you have done your side of the information gathering before going to RED Door so your plan is developed as quickly as possible.

If these are in place - it's time to work on your funding options.
The RED Door advisor will discuss the options with you.
Take time to consider each route and what your commitment is before you decide.