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QUICK-START BUSINESS PLAN
This plan will help you ask and answer your most pressing business questions.
And before you know it, you’ll be making money doing what you love!
Why you do
your work will
always affect
how you do
your work.
TIER 1 — Build Your Foundation
Define your WHY.
Why are you doing this? Why is it
important to you? Understanding your
“why” will inform every other decision
you make when building your business.
Setting your
goals on the
front end will
help you create
a solid plan
to reach your
finish line.
Set your GOALS.
Set goals for your business. They need to
be specific, be measurable, and have a
time limit. Setting goals on the front end
will help you create a solid plan to reach
your finish line.
NOTES:
TIER 1:
Build Your Foundation
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TIER 2 — Make Your Business Yours
When you stay
in your
strengths, you
not only have
more success,
but you also
have more fun!
Work in your STRENGTHS.
Have a plan for your MONEY.
You’re going to be the most successful
The difference between a business and a
when you stay in your strengths. What
hobby is that a business makes you
are you good at? What do you enjoy?
money, while a hobby costs you money.
Those are the things you should dedicate
You don’t want your business to drain
most of your time to in order for the
your personal bank account, so it’s
business to succeed. For things that you
important to decide on the front end:
don’t enjoy or struggle with, you can get
How much are you willing to spend on
outside help, delegate or automate.
the business before it funds itself?
Have a plan for your TIME.
This is where you put your goals into
action. How many hours do you spend
on your business each week in order to
reach your goals? Those hours you want
Your business
will grow in
proportion to
the amount of
time you
commit to it.
to spend on your business will only
happen if you plan them ahead of time.
Think about your schedule. What will you
have to give up in order to make room
TIER 2:
Make It Yours
for this time?
TIER 1:
Build Your Foundation
NOTES:
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TIER 3 — Get Operational
Plan ahead for
the crazies,
because I
promise you in
business—like in
life—there will
be some!
What are the LOGISTICS
of your business?
What is the PLATFORM
of your business?
How will you fulfill orders? What
processes do you need? Thinking
through the logistics of your
business will help you run it
efficiently. Being efficient means you
save time and money!
This is where your business will live
online. It may be an Etsy store, a blog
or a website. Choose something that
will be easy for you to use and makes
sense for your business.
What are the POLICIES
of your business?
Set policies, processes and
procedures to protect yourself. Think
through difficult customers (because
there will be some!) and worst-case
scenarios. How do you want to
handle last-minute lesson
cancellations, refund requests, or
multiple order changes? Planning for
this now will help you communicate
policies to your customer on the
front end and avoid complications
down the road.
NOTES:
TIER 3:
Get Operational
TIER 2:
Make It Yours
TIER 1:
Build Your Foundation
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TIER 4 — Put Yourself Out There
Your target
market isn’t
everyone. It’s
one type of
person. Figure
out who that is
and talk to
them—and
only to them.
What do you want to be KNOWN for?
This is your branding. Branding includes
your look, tone and feel that people
experience when they interact with your
business. Start by brainstorming with
adjectives that describe your business
(e.g., luxurious, essential, casual). Then you
can make decisions about your branding
based on the adjectives you choose.
Who is your CUSTOMER?
This is your target market. Your target
market includes people who want what
you have to offer and are willing to pay
the price you charge. Think about who
they are and where they hang out—then
go there. When you know more about
your customer, you can build your
marketing efforts to reach them with
less effort and more impact.
Setting your
goals on the
front end will
help you create
a solid plan
to reach your
finish line.
NOTES:
TIER 4:
Put Yourself
Out There
TIER 3:
Get Operational
TIER 2:
Make It Yours
TIER 1:
Build Your Foundation
CHECKLIST
Define your WHY.
I love doing this because:
Set your GOALS.
Write down the top three things you want your business to do for you:
1.
2.
3.
Work in your STRENGTHS.
List two things you’re good at:
1.
2.
Write down something you don’t enjoy and how you could get outside help for it:
Have a plan for your MONEY and TIME.
What dollar amount are you willing to spend on your business before it brings in any money?
How many hours per week will you dedicate to your business?
LOGISTICS, PLATFORM and POLICIES.
Using a separate sheet of paper, take some time to think these through and write them down.
Check off each one once you’ve nailed it down:
Process for filling orders and/or making appointments
Platform where your business will live
Refund policy
Deposit policy, if applicable
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CHECKLIST continued...
What do you want to be KNOWN for?
List 10 adjectives that describe your business:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Who is your CUSTOMER?
Find out which sites and/or brands they use the most and write them down here:
BUSINESSBOUTIQUE.COM
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