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

Six reasons why business plans fail

At B2B Business Advisors Limited we can provide help with writing a business plan, based on our experience of working with business in the Milton Keynes area. Here are six reasons why business plans fail – and how to make them succeed…

You may well have prepared a business plan some years ago to present to your bank manager. If you revisit that plan now, you will probably be surprised by how little relationship the position of your business now bears to that predicted in the plan. The reality is that most business plans fail. Here are some of the traps to avoid:

1. A dead document

A business plan that is created for a purpose and then discarded will always become obsolete quickly. Making your business plan a living document is essential if you don't want the whole process to be a failure. Only a regularly reviewed and updated plan can be the spur to look critically at your business on a recurring basis.

2. Over-optimism

Most business plans are over-optimistic, especially as regards predicted sales, often massively overestimating the size of the market. Research your market thoroughly. Too many business plans include a SWOT analysis, but concentrate on the strengths and opportunities and ignore the threats and weaknesses.

3. Ignoring the competition

Business plans commonly assume that the competition will make no competitive response or indeed, will have no new initiatives of their own. Study your competitors and try to second-guess their plans. A living document will take into account their actions.

4. New or old?

Too many business plans depend on doing something new, when what is needed is to find a better way of doing what is being done now.

5. Ignoring risk

What are the risks attached to the plan? Think through these and the costs of failure as well as the rewards of success.

6. Profit or turnover?

If expansion is planned, it should result in increased profits, not just sales. Expansion requires finance, people and other resources. Can you get them?

Remember, a good business plan is as much about the process as the final document. Creating your plan will open your eyes to the realities of your business. Keeping it updated will help you stay on the right track. For help with developing your plan, call us.

Start-ups and established businesses in the Milton Keynes area looking for help with writing a business plan should contact B2B Business Advisors Limited for more help and advice.

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.