Budding Business
Are you thinking of creating your own business, but literally don’t have a clue where to start? Too embarrassed to ask for help?
You’ve been fumbling through making a hobby into a side hustle aka business and need to get it on a more formal footing.
You’re ambitious, but need to start on that bottom rung of the entrepreneurship ladder.
Planning isn’t hard.
It can be daunting if you don’t even know where to begin. This isn’t dumbing down. It’s empowering and educating you, so you will know how to do this stuff all on your own.
My mission is to help you gain the skills to pursue your passions so you can put the plan away and get down to building that first small business. Who knows where it could lead?
I’ve written a book to guide you from a blank page to a basic plan. It’s not rocket science.
You’ll soon be wondering what all the fuss was about.
What You Get, and What You Don’t
I walk you through the whole small business planning process. Break it down into manageable chunks, simple steps, and explain it all in plain English.
You don’t need a business degree to understand it all, because I have kept the jargon to a minimum.
By the end of the book, you will have created your first basic small business plan. You can then decide if you wish to do a deep dive into specific areas. I talk about the basic finance elements, but because laws vary so much across the globe, I won’t be going into the detailed financial planning you may need to get grants or loans. I recommend, almost insist, you seek experts or start up support groups in your area and niche. They provide community and advice, and they might just buy your product or services, so start networking. I realise you may be an introvert, but you’ll be able to find valuable resources online that you can reach from your office chair or sofa.
The basic business plan you create will help you show people you mean business and are approaching this professionally. It will start you on that small business journey. You can’t build without foundations, so roll your sleeves up and start building.
Why Me
Why am I the one you should listen to about Business Planning? Well, I’m not.
The one, that is. I’m just one of the many people you can give you an opinion on this.
Who am I? I’m a woman who has been through many pivots and kept so many plates spinning I felt like applying to work at Cirque du Soleil. This little book is my way of giving back to you at the beginning of your planning journey.
I’m a writer and coach living in the best county in the world, South Yorkshire, in the North of England, and I work from home. By choice. It hasn’t always been that way. In previous lives, I’ve been in the military, a small business owner, insurance technician, team manager, IT systems tester, mentor / volunteer in non-profits, researcher, trainer, risk manager and a whole bucket load of other stuff along the way. Oh, and I worked in business planning management.
Redundancies and restructures, the polite word for getting rid of staff, promotions and complete career path shifts, led me through a whole long list of pivots and changes. Some more appreciated than others. Whilst at the time they were often stressful, I got through them all. I am here to tell the tale and help you learn the lessons with less stress.
My next path careered (see what I did there) through university admissions, training (I love sharing knowledge and skills), data analytics, research and development, and of course, business planning, again. All of which happened alongside life as a single parent, part-time student and married grandmother. Now I work as a freelance writer, author, podcaster, blogger, vlogger, novelist and motivational coach. The whole point of the rambling bio is to reassure you that life can be far from a straight path.
It’s complicated. S**t happens, but I am a firm believer that having a plan can help.
It really can. My experience is wide and varied, having advised blue chip global companies through to public sector organisations and sole traders. I’ve been there, seen how it’s done, and picked up a few ideas along the way. I not only wore the t-shirt, I now sell them, it’s all part of the entrepreneur multiple income mindset.
Why My Book?
One of the fundamental things that got me through the bad days was knowing I had a plan. I hope you won’t mind me sharing a quick story with you. It’s about a day that is forever tattooed on my memory. I remember where I was, even the colour of the desk and chairs. That day, or rather the advice I received, planted the tiny seed that grew into my mission to help others. To help them avoid the pitfalls of using a ‘make do and mend’ sticking plaster approach to planning.
I was losing my job, again, our dept was closing. All those years of working hard trying to do the right thing, well, they didn’t count for anything. We were all out of a job. I had bills to pay, a daughter to feed, a roof to keep over my head. It was terrifying. I sat and cried. Now I’m not one for sympathy, I can’t stand it. I rebel against it. I see no value in it. Instead of a kind word or pity party, a colleague sat down with me, with a pen and paper. They ignored my tears and told me I needed a plan. We sat and wrote everything down. I stopped crying and my passion for planning was born. That plan enabled me to pay my bills, feed my family, and keep my house. To that woman, I remember you. I’m forever grateful.
I won’t bore you with loads of theory or academic references. The whole point is to make this business planning ‘stuff’ easy to take on board. I almost said malarkey, but I promised to keep it plain English, easy for a beginner to understand and if I had to describe a malarkey, I’m not even sure I could. Maybe you have a rough idea of what to do but need a bit of guidance to get your thoughts down on paper. Or you are laser focussed but not sure how to explain your ideas to someone else. Either way, I’ll talk you through it in simple bite-size chunks.
Disclaimer: I am not a qualified accountant or a legal adviser. My book will not make you qualified in any industry. I write it to help guide, inform, and support you on your journey to your chosen independent lifestyle.
Always consult professionals before making any investments or taking risks in your business.
Ready to buy it right now…
I’m excited to hear how you build your business!