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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:
 

  • The basics of business planning

  • Fundamental documents and terminology 

  • How to create a business plan forecasts and financials

  • Deep business planning insights and tips

 

Course Modules:

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Free Online Business Planning Course

Business planning basics
Business Plan Course

Part 1: Business Planning Introduction

Module overview:

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  • Course Outline

  • Course Aim

  • Business Planning Basics

  • 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?

  • How much cash will the company need?

  • How much is the business start-up or expansion going to cost me?

  • How much will need to be invested?

  • How will the company attract customers?

  • How will the business be competitive? 

  • What is the company's marketing strategy?

  • How much should the business charge for its services or goods?

  • When should the business start?

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All of these questions, and many more, will be answered in a detailed business plan. 

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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! 

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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).

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The plan is split into two parts: the business plan financials and the business plan notes. 

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The Financials

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  • Sales Forecasts

  • Expenses Forecasts

  • Cash Flow Forecasts

  • Projected Profit and Loss Statements

  • Projected Balance Sheets

  • Other Financial Analysis and Projections

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The Notes

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These generally include:

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  • Information about the business, such as the business name, address, company structure, and company organisation

  • Market Research

  • The business's marketing strategies 

  • Business goals

How to create a Business Plan with Template and Samples

create an expenses forecast
Expense Forecast

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. 

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Common expenses include:

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  • Rent, rates, power and water

  • Wages and salaries

  • Printing, postage, and stationery 

  • Motor vehicles and travelling 

  • Insurance

  • Bank charges and interest

  • Accounting and legal costs 

  • Equipment hire

  • Subcontractors 

  • Taxes

  • Phone and internet

  • Software

  • Subscriptions

  • Training

create a sales forecast
Sales Forecast

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. 

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It is crucial as it heavily influences the cash flow forecast and projected profit and loss statement. 

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Sales are generated through providing goods or services. 

assets and liabilities
Business Plan Template

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. 

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Common assets are:

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  • Machinery and equipment

  • Tools

  • Vehicles

  • Cash

  • Stock

  • Property

Liabilities

Liabilities are something a business owes.

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Common liabilities are:

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  • Loans and overdrafts

  • Credit cards

  • Finance agreements

  • Cash owed to suppliers

  • Other debts

create a cash flow forecast
Cash flow forecast

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

  • Payments to suppliers

  • Tax payments

  • Investments from shareholders

  • Drawings to shareholders

  • Loans and finance from banks

  • Purchase of assets

  • Cash sales

  • Cash expenses

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A cash flow forecast is not a profit and loss statement. 

create profit and loss
Projected 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). 

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The statement details the business's sales minus its expenses. 

create a balance sheet
Projected balance sheet

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. 

Learn business planning

Part 8: Written Side of the Business Plan

Module overview:

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  • How to write a 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. 

*Recommended* How to Write a Business Plan Book with No Experience

 

UK link
 

US link

downloadable business plan templates

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. 

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Send me an email: info@bpfs-online.com

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