AS Business Business plans Unit 1

Lesson objectives To be able to discuss business plans To be able to answer a past paper question on business plans

Starter Where do you want to be in 3 years time – do you have a plan?

Business plan Is a look into the future of the business It is not a look back at how things have been for the business It would NOT include a bank statement as this is a look back at transactions Lesson Objective: To be able to discuss business plans

Why does a business write a business plan? To persuade lenders that the business will make enough profit to be able to pay back interest and loan capital on any finance taken out Attract potential investors to the business To give the owners some direction – once a plan is written down it is more likely to be followed To set targets (smart) and objectives that can be followed To identify early on any problem areas that the business might face To monitor their effectiveness - if they knew what they were aiming for at the end of the year they could see if they have achieved it Lesson Objective: To be able to discuss business plans

What’s included on a business plan Cash flow forecast – to show the expected income and expenditure of a business over the coming year Start-up cash flow management is critical – many businesses fail because of a lack of cash to pay suppliers and day-to-day bills Cash flow forecast will help to show a bank that the interest rates can be afforded on any finance that they borrow Cash flow shows the liquidity of the business (how quickly it can raise cash) and its ability to pay its bills A business plan will NOT improve cash flow that will be down to how well the business trades Lesson Objective: To be able to discuss business plans

Cash flow forecast example Shows months when finance will be needed

What else goes into a business plan? Name of the business (“Cut above” or “curl up and dye” for hairdressers) Product or service and the market it is aimed at 4 Ps of marketing Human resources; who will be working there, managers, owners etc Production costs and potential suppliers of materials Premises and how it will be financed; rent, mortgage, bought outright, leased from council Financial information; projections on revenue / costs / profits Lesson Objective: To be able to discuss business plans

Bank websites: Banks often have guide pages so that anyone who wants to go into business can apply for start-up loans. It makes it easier for them if customers use their templates – that way they know everything they need to make an informed decision about whether to lend is in the plan. Barclays Business Plan Lloyds Bank Business Plan Royal Bank of Scotland Business Plan Lesson Objective: To be able to discuss business plans

Sample question 1 Lesson Objective: To be able to discuss business plans

Answer question 1 Answer option c – supports application for start up capital Business plans are drawn up by owners of a business to give a business direction and help secure finance (1 mark) - This is because they can indicate cash-flow which indicates liquidity (1 mark) - And therefore the ability of the borrower to pay back any start-up capital borrowed (1 mark) - D is incorrect because improved cash-flow is not guaranteed by a business plan (though it may be assisted)because improved cash-flow depends on actual receipts Lesson Objective: To be able to discuss business plans

Sample question 2 In January 2009, in order to support people who prepared a start-up business plan, LloydsTSB gave their customers Sage business planning software. Which one of the following is not usually found in a start-up business plan? A A cash-flow forecast B A projected profit and loss account C A marketing plan D A bank statement Lesson Objective: To be able to discuss business plans

Answer question 2 Answer – option D Bank statement - definition/description of a business plan (1) - as it is usually prepared to raise finance it contains financial projections (1) - which is precisely what cash-flow forecast and projected P & L accounts are (1) - bank statements are merely a record of financial transactions (1mark), which a start up business will not have given that it has not started to operate as yet (1) Lesson Objective: To be able to discuss business plans

Sample question 3 Clear Vision is a small window cleaning business operating in Derby. In order to seek finance for the business to start-up, Mark Wilkinson, the proprietor, had to prepare a business plan. Which of the following would Mark include in his business plan? A Bank loan application B Cash-flow forecast C Bank statement D Trade-off Lesson Objective: To be able to discuss business plans

Answer question 3 Answer B a cash – flow forecast Because this is a start-up business cash-flow management is crucial (1 mark application) to secure finance from a bank to show potential liquidity (1 mark knowledge) but bank statements are simply a record of transactions which do not indicate liquidity only a record on receipts and payments (1 mark analysis). Cash-flow forecasts are projections of receipts and payments for the window cleaner (1 mark application) which are required to convince a financier that the business will not suffer liquidity problems (1 mark knowledge) whereas a bank loans application will have already been made separate to the plan (1 mark analysis). Lesson Objective: To be able to discuss business plans

Sample question 4 Mike Watson, the Community Manager at Morris Brown CLC, prepared the business plan. Briefly give two reasons to explain why Mike might have prepared a business plan. [6] Lesson Objective: To be able to discuss business plans

Answer question 4 Knowledge 2, Application 2, Analysis 2 Knowledge: up to 2 marks are available for showing knowledge, e.g. by candidates defining a business plan as a document designed to provide information about a business proposal relating to such activities as marketing and HR, also in order to gain finance, monitor effectiveness, give direction, etc. Application: up to 2 marks are available for relating the above to Leisure Library, e.g. describing the marketing plans for the LL such as advertising the service on A Sporting Chance’s website. Analysis: up to 2 marks are available for the consideration of causes for Mike to develop the business plan, e.g. to show potential lenders or financiers, in this case MBCLC Community Club (accept local council) why the business might succeed, OR in this case for example to check that the aims of the LL (e.g. to provide a broad-based activity portfolio) are being met. Lesson Objective: To be able to discuss business plans