Business Plan for UK Companies

What is a business plan?
It is simply a route map for a business, which sets out a clear direction and objectives for management and key staff to follow. It should involve a continuous process of review, not just a one-off.

Are there different types of business plan?
Not really, the basic content for a business plan remains the same but the difference may lie in the way it is presented to suit the purpose i.e. a plan for raising funding will need to be written to appeal to investors, whilst a development plan might only be for internal use and therefore written accordingly.

If I want to write a business plan for a UK company, as opposed to a US based company, how does it differ?
US businesses tend to use different terminology and formats - therefore you need to follow a UK format, such as stepbystep, for UK businesses.

Does the phrase Writing a Business Plan mean the same as Creating a Business Plan, Preparing a Business Plan or Making a Business Plan?
Basically, yes.

I hear the phrases Business Plan Format, Business Plan Layout, Business Plan Template and Business Plan Structure. Are these all the same?
Essentially they mean the same thing but of course they manifest themselves in different ways. You can find examples in books, on software or download them from the internet.

Is there such a thing as a Small Business Plan?
Yes, there are formats available, which are designed for small business use - such as stepbystep.

What is a Business Start-up Plan?
This can depend on the size of the business venture envisaged. If it is a lifestyle business, then the plan is likely to be fairly brief, covering the essential main points (banks often have templates for these). However, if it is a high-growth start-up business, then a comprehensive plan, such as the stepbystep format, will often be required for finance purposes.

What is a business Marketing Plan?
A Marketing Plan will often be borne out of the Business Plan and be a separate, more comprehensive document, covering the marketing strategy and execution in greater detail.