Take a look at this short webinar on making a financial plan with Sported's Paul Steel
Read MoreBusiness planning guides and templates
Download the Sported business plan template to design and write an effective business plan
What is a business plan?
- A document summarising your group’s objectives (goals) and strategies for achieving them
- A guide for your group’s policies and strategies that is updated at regular intervals
- A document that is useful for funders detailing the past, present and future performance of the organisation
Why is it important?
- Ensure your group understands its purpose
- Help you to think strategically
- Assess the feasibility of a new idea or project
- Clarify what resources you need
- Allow you to review progress and make changes
- Demonstrate a professional image
- Help you in completing applications for funders
- Identify problems before they start
- Improve engagement with members and volunteers
The template includes standard sections contained within a comprehensive business plan. You can use this template as a guide and tailor your business plan to meet your individual needs, including the amount of detail that is relevant for each section.
In addition, you may also wish to use some sections of the plan as standalone to focus on a particular element or issue – e.g. your financial position including the relevant financial documents.
Ideally, we recommend this plan isn’t completed by one person. It should result from discussion, collaboration, and problem-solving from a few people within your organisation who know it well.
If you want more support in this area, contact your local Sported team or request volunteer support here.
Other business template examples:
Action plan
An action plan is where you layout how you are going to achieve your objectives. It includes specific actions, dates, resources required, who is responsible and what the intended outcomes you are working towards.
It is a very important part of any business plan, but it can also be used as a standalone exercise for any project or activity.
Download the guides and template here
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