Page 31 - MICROHUB Handbook - ENGLISH
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Whilst there are many formats and templates for
formulating business plans (we are also providing
you one – the Business Planning Canvas[1]) they all
revolve around the same key business
requirements. That is: making clear the specific
goals and offering (products/services) of the
business, the target customers and their problems
(needs, wants, fears) that such offering addresses
better than competing alternatives, the key
activities, resources and partners required to
actually deliver a better solution to the customer
problem, how much all these cost, and the
revenues and overall financial results expected
over 1-3 years. Your business plan ultimately
describes the way in which value (benefits) can be
created through your personal craft and the way
you collaborate with others.
As the Chinese proverb says, "a journey of a thousand miles begins with
a single step". So let’s proceed towards your business plan by going step
by step through a process of analysis and reflection upon its various key
elements. We will guide you through it, including by asking questions. It
is very important to keep in mind that business planning is an iterative
process that requires that you ponder and consider various aspects,
often for each of the key elements of a business, before being able to
converge on a specific approach to tackle each of them and the business
overall. You can then write down your replies and analyse the findings
and planned approaches to implementing your craft or creative
microbusiness in the Business Planning Canvas template included at the
end of this Module. This, as well as other templates needed for business
planning and related analysis are also included in Module 9, providing a
toolbox for you to apply to your own craft business planning.
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