Ten top tips for a successful start-up
In association with Lloyds TSB Commercial, here are 10 handy hints and tips to consider when setting up your business. 1. Write a Business Plan Many businesses seem to get by without a plan, and so...
View ArticleOnline tools and resources to help you write an effective business plan
One of the keys to success in any venture is having an accurate and informative business plan. It will set a clear direction and ensure you spend your time productively. As a vital document, you need...
View Article5 warning signs your business plan is unrealistic
As you start up your business, the need for a well thought through business plan is clear. Even if you are just going to be you sitting in your spare bedroom selling things over the internet, you need...
View ArticleBusiness Plans for Business Angels – Part One
This guide has been written for ByteStart by John Courtney of Beer & Partners Ltd. There are many books on writing business plans – all the banks provide a handy checklist for example. Yet business...
View ArticleBusiness Plans for Business Angels – Part Two
The second instalment of our two-part guide to writing a business plan for business angels, examines each of the main chapters in detail, highlighting the areas that need particular attention if you...
View ArticleTop 10 business planning tips for start-ups
Writing a business plan is an important step in the business start-up process. And, if you want to raise funding for your new business, you simply must produce an up-to-date business plan to show...
View ArticleThe 10 business development truths that will give you an edge over your...
Business development is much more than just about marketing, sales, pitching, online wizardry, mailings, advertising, branding, social media strategies, glossy brochures, discount deals, promotional...
View ArticleCashflow Forecasting – top tips to produce a better cash flow forecast
When you are starting a new business, you will most likely need to produce a cashflow forecast. If you’re looking to raise money, from either a bank loan or outside investors, a cash flow will be one...
View ArticleHow to write a business plan for you, not the bank or potential investors
When you decide it’s time to get your business started, you’ll find the first piece of advice given by most experts is to “get a business plan written”. And they’re right; that is the first step to...
View ArticleGuide to successful business planning
There is a lot to be gained from business planning but many businesses will search for a million reasons to avoid it. However large or small your business is, planning for the future is critical to its...
View Article10 Do’s and Don’ts of writing a business plan
When it comes to writing a business plan, there is one single golden rule that dwarfs all others – your business plan must address each of the key concerns of your potential backer. If you fail on this...
View ArticleGuide to Writing a Business Plan – Part 6 – Success Factors
In Part 6 of our 8-Part Guide to Writing a Business Plan we look at ‘Success Factors’. This section is very important as it provides a summary explaining why the plan will succeed. 9. Success Factors...
View ArticleGuide to Writing a Business Plan – Part 5 – Marketing Strategy
In Part 5 of our 8-Part Guide to Writing a Business Plan we review the Marketing Strategy. Once you have established the market, the competition and the factors that affect it you need to detail the...
View ArticleGuide to Writing a Business Plan – Part 4 – Environmental, Company and...
In Part 4 of our 8-Part Guide to Writing a Business Plan, we look at the environmental, company and competition analysis parts of the business plan. 5. Environmental Analysis There are a number of...
View ArticleGuide to Writing a Business Plan – Part 3 – Market Analysis, Demand Analysis
In Part 3 of our 8-Part Guide to Writing a Business Plan we look at Market Analysis and Demand Analysis. 3. Market Analysis In this chapter you will define: The market Geographical area Consumer...
View ArticleGuide to Writing a Business Plan – Part 2 – Objectives, Executive Summary
In Part 2 of our 8-Part Guide to Writing a Business Plan we look at The Objectives and Executive Summary. Both, ‘The Objectives’ and ‘Executive Summary’ sections provide an overview of the entire...
View ArticleGuide to Writing a Business Plan – Part 1 – Introduction
The following 8-part guide on how to write a business plan serves as an outline for anyone who is thinking of starting their own business, or improving an existing business. The aim of this guide is to...
View ArticleTen top tips for a successful start-up
In association with Lloyds TSB Commercial, here are 10 handy hints and tips to consider when setting up your business. 1. Write a Business Plan Many businesses seem to get by without a plan, and so...
View ArticleWhy financial forecasting is important for startups, and how to do it painlessly
When you are launching a new business, it’s fair to say that planning your finances isn’t the most exciting aspect of of being a startup. However, it is a crucial part of understanding whether your...
View ArticleA beginner’s guide to testing your financial plan
According to Bloomberg’s infamous, mythical study, 8 out of 10 businesses fail in their first 18 months. The Bloomberg figure has been shown to be nonsense, but business failure statistics given by...
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