Logically you should start with your vision and long-term goals. However, most people find it easiest to start the writing process with numbers - your forecast turnover, in fact. Working through a simple financial forecast covering, say, three years and matching your vision or strategic goals allows you to get the business planning process started. The numbers provide a spine for the plan around which you can flesh out the strategy, marketing, sales and so forth.
As well as turnover, the financial forecast should include direct costs and overheads (and so tell you gross margin and profit). If you sell different product lines or to different markets then this split should be shown. The major cost drivers should also be shown separately.
Once you have this basic model you can start to consider how you are actually going to deliver it. How will your marketing and sales processes deliver the revenue you are forecasting? What is the basis of your direct costs figure? Will the level of overheads support the size of business you are plannning?
These considerations come together in the story of your business that is your business plan.
If you'd like to know more about developing a business plan then this event is for you.
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