We offer a range of high quality accounting, financial and business services in and around Milton Keynes.

Avoiding traps in strategic planning

At B2B Business Advisors Limited we can provide businesses in the Milton Keynes area with advice and support on a wide range of business issues. Here are some traps to avoid in strategic planning...

Some form of strategic planning is essential for all businesses that want to improve their long-term financial performance. However, it can be difficult to do it effectively, especially without external help and constructive criticism. 

Common pitfalls

For many businesses, 'strategy' is too often:

  • an overly simplistic vision, which is not necessarily grounded in tangible, competitive advantage
  • concerned only with general objectives, without spelling out the 'how'
  • too broad in scope, and insufficiently broken down by different product or market segments
  • controlled exclusively by too small a number of individuals
  • based upon inaccurate or wishful financial projections
  • focused only on profitability or sales measures, meaning that other important issues, such as exit values on sale of the business are often not factored in.

A new perspective

To avoid these traps, it is useful to take a fresh perspective on the business. You need to look at the wider picture, including such things as the 'PEST factors (political, economic, social and technical); the actions of your competitors, the efficiency of your systems and cost management; and the factors that drive growth in your business.

A good external adviser can often help in achieving this perspective. They can do this not just by coming up with imaginative ideas for growth and strategy, but also by facilitating discussions, by helping you to evaluate options, and by asking you searching questions about your business, which stimulate creative thinking and help you find your own solutions.

Practical measures

Above all, strategic planning must result in practical measures which ultimately benefit your bottom line.

Strategies should be broken down into step-by-step processes, deadlines and responsibilities decided, and project management guidelines put in place so that ideas can be implemented. Measures that will enable you to track success should also be established.

As your accountants, we can help you with much more than just your tax returns. We can assist in many of the areas that will enable your business to achieve long-term financial success. These include such things as preparing cash flow forecasts and business plans, minimising your tax burden and helping you to maximise the opportunities for raising finance.

If you are in the Milton Keynes area and are looking for help and support from experienced accountants and business advisers, contact B2B Business Advisors Limited.

Register

Why not register to receive our monthly newswire? This is packed full of essential business news and handy tax tips to help save you money.

Learn more

Tax Calendar

Our handy tax calendar provides an overview of the key tax dates for your diary.

Learn more

Calculators

B2B’s interactive tax calculators can be used to calculate VAT due, the taxable benefits on your company car and how much your savings are worth.

Learn more

Home | About us | Contact us | Logon | Register | Accessibility | Disclaimer | Help | Site map |

© 2024 B2B Business Advisors Limited. All rights reserved.

We use cookies on this website, you can find more information about cookies here.
Chartered Tax Adviser

Registered in England, Company Registration number – 7906656. Registered Office – 58b High Street, Stony Stratford, Milton Keynes, MK11 1AQ. Registered with the Chartered Institute of Taxation as a firm of Chartered Tax Advisers. Registered to carry out audit work and regulated for a range of investment business activities by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.