Your one-stop guide to creating a winning business plan from scratch Whether you're starting a new business or growing an established one, you'll need a solid business plan to get you where you want to go. Revised for today's rocky economic climate, this edition of the UK's bestselling business plan guide gives you what you need to map out your business strategy and stay on course – including a complete sample plan that you can easily adapt for your business! Chart your course – assess the current state of your business and where you'd like to take it, and establish clear, achievable objectives Get to know your customers – learn the latest techniques for getting a better idea of who your customers are and what they want Scope out the competition – find out who your competitors are and what it'll take to get your share of the market pie (and theirs) Sort out your finances – construct a value chain, examine your cash flow and calculate a sensible budget Enter the Dragons' Den – convince bankers, investors, venture capitalists and other funding sources your business is a good investment Read the tea leaves – learn to decipher changing cultural, political and technological trends and to alter your strategies as needed Open the book and find: Tips on developing a sure-fire business strategy How to set realistic objectives Forecasting and budgeting strategies Keys to writing a motivational mission statement How to decipher the latest consumer trends Advice on building your brand and brand loyalty Tips for seeing and seizing opportunities before the competition Ways to adapt your plan to economic change Learn to: Prepare a watertight business strategy Assess the marketplace Devise a sensible forecast and budget
Get your head around company finance. Whether you're a small business owner or a corporate manager with budget responsibilities, having an understanding of your company's finances is crucial. This user-friendly guide takes you through all the key elements of UK business accounting, covering everything from evaluating profit margins and establishing budgets to controlling cash flow and writing financial reports. The third edition has been fully updated throughout and includes brand new content on the emergence of IFRS and dealing with foreign exchange. The book is organised into five Parts: Part I: Accounting Basics Part II: Getting a Grip on Financial Statements (Including cash flow, cash flow statements financial reports, profit and loss accounts) Part III: Accounting in Managing a Business (Including managing profit performance, budgeting, ownership structures, costs, and difference accounting methods) Part IV: Financial Reports in the Outside World (All about auditors and advisors, and how investors read financial reports) Part V: Part of Tens