How to Write a Business Plan (And Break Each Segment Into Achievable Tasks)
- samueljpart
- Feb 26
- 5 min read
A business plan isn’t something you write once and forget about. It’s a tool for leadership, decision-making, and business growth. But who is a business plan for? 🔹 If you are just starting out, focus on Product / Service Validation first.
🔹 If you have validation focus on writing a business strategy. (How you will sell it)
🔹 If you have already completed those tasks or you have been running your business for some time then you should easily be able to collate the information and write a full business plan. Many businesses start with a rough idea of what they want to achieve, and build the plan over time. But it is important that you know that without any plan, they:
❌ Make decisions reactively instead of strategically.
❌ Waste time on tasks that don’t contribute to real growth.
❌ Struggle to track what’s working and what’s not.
A good business plan gives you clarity on where you’re going, what resources you need, and what daily, weekly, and monthly actions will get you there. It’s also a living document that evolves as your business grows. Here’s how to write (or refine) your business plan, turn it into real actions, and make better business decisions.
📌 Business Plan Checklist A strong business plan covers:
1️⃣ Vision & Mission
What is your long-term goal?
Why does your business exist?
How does your business grow beyond its current state?
2️⃣ Product or Service Offering
What are you selling, and how is it evolving?
What customer problem does it solve?
How does it compare to existing solutions in the market?
3️⃣ Market & Competitor Research
Who are your most valuable customers?
Where do you sit in the market?
What are competitors doing that you aren’t (yet)?
4️⃣ Sales & Marketing Strategy
Where are your leads coming from?
What strategies are you actively testing?
Are you tracking what works and what doesn’t?
5️⃣ Financial Planning & Forecasting
What’s your projected revenue vs. actual revenue?
What will your financial health look like in 6–12 months?
Do you know your break-even point?
6️⃣ Team & Resources
Who do you have, and who do you need?
Are current hires in the right roles?
Where is the biggest skills gap?
7️⃣ Operations & Logistics
What processes are slowing you down?
Are you using the right tools and systems?
Can your current setup handle future growth?
8️⃣ Growth & Scalability
What will allow you to scale effectively?
What opportunities could drive more revenue?
How do you know when to expand?
📌 Breaking It Down Into Actionable Tasks
(And Where I Can Help)
1️⃣ Vision & Mission → Align Your Business With Your Goals
Many businesses struggle because they lack a clear, communicated vision. Your team (even if it’s just you) needs to know:
✅ Where this business is heading (1, 3, 5 years). ✅ What success looks like beyond just revenue. ✅ What impact you want to have on your customers/industry.
📝 Tasks: 🔹 Define your long-term vision in 2–3 sentences. 🔹 Identify 3 core values that will guide your business decisions. 🔹 Create a 1-year plan with clear objectives.
💡 Where I can help: If your vision and strategy feel disconnected, I help founders align their goals with a clear roadmap—so you’re not just working, but working towards something specific.
2️⃣ Product or Service Offering → Stay Competitive & Relevant
Your business offering should evolve as your market and customers change. If you’re still selling what you did 2 years ago without revisiting pricing, positioning, or demand, you might be falling behind.
📝 Tasks: 🔹 List out your most profitable products/services. 🔹 Identify customer pain points your offering solves. 🔹 Benchmark your pricing, quality, and features against competitors.
💡 Where I can help: If you’re unsure whether your offer is priced correctly, positioned well, or still relevant, I help businesses reassess their offerings to ensure they stay ahead of the competition.
3️⃣ Market & Competitor Research → Know Where You Fit
Most businesses don’t check in often enough on their market position. You need to know your audience, your competition, and what trends are shifting.
📝 Tasks: 🔹 Identify your top competitors (local or global). 🔹 Track market trends that could affect demand. 🔹 Speak to 5 existing customers to understand why they buy from you.
💡 Where I can help: If you’re not regularly updating your customer profiles or tracking competitors, I help businesses stay relevant and competitive with ongoing research and strategy updates.
4️⃣ Sales & Marketing Strategy → Test, Track, Improve
A business isn’t failing because it’s not good enough—it’s failing because not enough of the right people know about it.
📝 Tasks:
🔹 Identify your best-performing lead sources (word of mouth, LinkedIn, ads, SEO?).
🔹 Set up tracking systems to see what’s working.
🔹 Commit to one experiment per month to refine your strategy.
💡 Where I can help: If your marketing efforts feel scattered and unmeasured, I help businesses build strategies that actually convert—based on data, not guesswork.
5️⃣ Financial Planning → Know What’s Coming
Many small businesses don’t track cash flow properly, leading to unexpected financial stress.
📝 Tasks:
🔹 Calculate your break-even point (how many sales cover costs).
🔹 Forecast your next 6 months of revenue vs. expenses.
🔹 Identify what you can afford to reinvest.
💡 Where I can help: If financial planning feels overwhelming, I help break it down into simple, actionable forecasting—so you know where you stand.
6️⃣ Team & Resources → The Right People in the Right Roles
Your team (or lack of one) might be your biggest bottleneck.
📝 Tasks: 🔹 Identify your biggest skill gaps. 🔹 Define when it’s time to hire based on workload. 🔹 Consider outsourcing tasks instead of hiring.
💡 Where I can help: If you’re stretched too thin but unsure what to delegate, I help founders prioritize hiring and outsourcing for growth.
7️⃣ Operations & Logistics → Work Smarter, Not Harder
Your internal systems should support your growth, not slow you down.
📝 Tasks: 🔹 Audit your processes—what takes too long? 🔹 List your biggest daily frustrations. 🔹 Explore automation or new tools to improve efficiency.
💡 Where I can help: If your backend operations are messy, I help businesses streamline workflows to reduce wasted time and resources.
📌 Final Thoughts: A Business Plan Should Be a Leadership Tool
✅ Define your goals and turn them into real actions. ✅ Track progress and adjust when needed. ✅ Help you make better decisions about growth, hiring, and investment.
🚀 Need help making your plan work for you?
📅 Book a free 30-min call, and let’s create a business plan that actually drives results.
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