Free Business Plan Course
This page contains our free online business planning course. It will teach you business planning basics and help you create a business plan template. You can also download the business plan template for free at the bottom of this page.
The Course Covers:
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The basics of business planning
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Fundamental documents and terminology
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How to create a business plan forecasts and financials
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Deep business planning insights and tips
Course Modules:
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Lesson 1: Business Planning Introduction
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Lesson 2: The Expenses Forecast
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Lesson 3: The Sales Forecast
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Lesson 4: The Asset & Liability Forecasts
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Lesson 5: The Cash Flow Forecast
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Lesson 6: Projected Profit and Loss Statements
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Lesson 7: Projected Balance Sheets
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Lesson 8: Writing a Business Plan
To start the online course, scroll down
This course is FREE, and no registration is required. It is perfect for start-up businesses and companies looking for financing.
Jump to:
How to Create an Expenses Forecast
How to Create a Sales Forecast
Business Plan: Accounting for Assets & Liabilities
How to Create a Cash Flow Forecast
How to Create a Projected Profit and Loss Statement
Free Online Business Planning Course
Part 1: Business Planning Introduction
Module overview:
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Course Outline
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Course Aim
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Business Planning Basics
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And more
What is a business plan?
A business plan is a set of strategies, projections, forecasts, goals, and ambitions for a business or company. It details crucial financial information about a company and detailed market research and growth plans.
Why do you need a business plan?
Before starting a business or planning for company expansion, there are many things to consider, such as:
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Is the business idea profitable?
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How much cash will the company need?
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How much is the business start-up or expansion going to cost me?
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How much will need to be invested?
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How will the company attract customers?
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How will the business be competitive?
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What is the company's marketing strategy?
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How much should the business charge for its services or goods?
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When should the business start?
All of these questions, and many more, will be answered in a detailed business plan.
It may sound cliché, but the saying, 'if you fail to plan, you plan to fail', summarises the importance of business planning. If you want to give a business every opportunity to succeed, ensure the company has a business plan!
A business plan is also needed for a company to require bank financing or to attract investors.
What should a business plan include?
A business plan covers at least twelve months of projections, forecasts, research and goals. Most business plans cover three years (36 months).
The plan is split into two parts: the business plan financials and the business plan notes.
The Financials
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Sales Forecasts
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Expenses Forecasts
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Cash Flow Forecasts
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Projected Profit and Loss Statements
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Projected Balance Sheets
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Other Financial Analysis and Projections
The Notes
These generally include:
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Information about the business, such as the business name, address, company structure, and company organisation
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Market Research
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The business's marketing strategies
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Business goals
How to create a Business Plan with Template and Samples
Part 2: Expense Forecast
Module overview:
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How to create an expense forecast
Expense Forecast
An expense forecast projects a company's expenses (overheads) for a specified period.
Common expenses include:
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Rent, rates, power and water
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Wages and salaries
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Printing, postage, and stationery
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Motor vehicles and travelling
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Insurance
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Bank charges and interest
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Accounting and legal costs
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Equipment hire
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Subcontractors
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Taxes
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Phone and internet
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Software
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Subscriptions
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Training
Part 3: Sales Forecast
Module overview:
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How to create a sales forecast
Sales Forecast
A sales forecast projects a company's sales (revenue/turnover) for a specified period.
It is crucial as it heavily influences the cash flow forecast and projected profit and loss statement.
Sales are generated through providing goods or services.
Part 4: Assets & Liabilities
Module overview:
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How to account for assets and liabilities
Assets
Assets are items owned by a company that have value.
Common assets are:
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Machinery and equipment
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Tools
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Vehicles
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Cash
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Stock
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Property
Liabilities
Liabilities are something a business owes.
Common liabilities are:
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Loans and overdrafts
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Credit cards
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Finance agreements
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Cash owed to suppliers
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Other debts
Part 5: Cash Flow Forecast
Module overview:
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How to create a cash flow forecast
Cash Flow Forecast
A cash flow forecast projects available cash at a given time.
The forecast displays the flow of money in and out of the business, which includes:
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Payments from customers
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Payments to suppliers
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Tax payments
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Investments from shareholders
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Drawings to shareholders
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Loans and finance from banks
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Purchase of assets
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Cash sales
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Cash expenses
A cash flow forecast is not a profit and loss statement.
Part 6: Projected Profit and Loss Statement
Module overview:
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How to create a projected profit and loss statement
Projected Profit and Loss Statement
A projected profit and loss statement shows a company's profit (or loss).
The statement details the business's sales minus its expenses.
Part 7: Projected Balance Sheet
Module overview:
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How to create a projected balance sheet
Projected Balance Sheet
A projected balance sheet shows a company's assets and liabilities. In other words, what the company owns and what it owes.
Part 8: Written Side of the Business Plan
Written business plan
A business plan includes a set of financials and a written plan containing research, company information, goals, ambitions, and notes for the financials.
Downloadable Business Plan Templates
Access my free business plan templates. They are all safe to download:
Do you need help?
The Bookkeeping Master provides complete business planning services, which include sales, expense and cash-flow forecasts, and projected profit and loss statements.
Send me an email: info@bpfs-online.com