Once your business is running steadily, the next questions are where to take it and who can help. Growth without a plan can strain your cash and your energy. Support from the right programme can speed things up. Support from the wrong one can cost you money. This lesson helps you plan and choose wisely.
Write a one page plan
You do not need a thick business plan. One page is enough to guide you and to show a programme or lender. Include:
- What you sell and to whom, in two or three sentences.
- Where you are now: your monthly sales, profit and number of regular customers, taken from your records.
- Your goal for the next six to twelve months, such as "sell to two shops in Tamale" or "reach customers in Kumasi every week".
- What you need to get there: more stock, better packaging, registration, a second supplier, a helper.
- The steps and timeline, month by month.
- Risks and what you will do about them, such as a supplier falling ill or prices rising.
Review the plan every month and compare it with your records.
Ways to grow
- Sell more to existing customers: new sizes, gift packs, related products.